Page:The Harveian oration 1905.djvu/88

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THE HARVEIAN ORATION.

years. I dare not on the present occasion venture even to touch the fringe of this vast and fascinating subject, and will only refer you for information on certain points to the valuable lectures which have been delivered in this College quite lately.

7. I will only further allude in this connection to the important bearing which the blood and vascular system have been found to exercise upon certain pathological processes hitherto but little understood; and the remarkable progress made in our knowledge regarding morbid conditions of the absorbent system, which is so intimately connected with the circulation.

Clinical Investigation.

Another interesting study in relation to the circulatory system is the progressive development of clinical investigation, culminating in the modern more strictly scientific methods which are now-a-days so much in vogue. While offering a few general observations on this aspect of my subject, I cannot refrain from personal criticisms of certain tendencies which are apparent at the present time. That immense advances have been made since the time of Harvey goes without saying, and it may be affirmed that the means which are now at our command should enable any well-trained and intelligent practitioner to recognise and diagnose, as a rule with sufficient accuracy, the morbid conditions of the circulatory system which may come under