For many years Harvey laboured in London, practising his profession successfully, lecturing at the College and above all devoting his spare time to carrying out a prodigious number of experiments. After about ten years of carefully conducted experimentation on the bodies of men and upon those of many different species of animals, Harvey began to teach his revolutionary doctrines at the College in 1616, but it was not until 1628, when he was absolutely certain that he had eliminated all sources of error and had considered all the criticisms of his colleagues in the College, that he gave the world his masterpiece, commonly spoken of as Dc Motu Cordis. After its publication he continued his experimental work which led to his producing a remarkable book on the generation of animals. In this hook Harvey first formulated the now generally accepted doctrine wiixiam hahvey's message to i-ndia. of epigenesis or development of the body by a process of differentiation from a simple germ. That eminent (Being an Address delivered to University College zoologist, the late Professor Huxley, was of opinion Medical Society, Rangoon, 1928). that Harvey's work in this connexion was of even greater importance than his better known work on the By G. R. McROBERT, m.d., m.r.c.p., circulation of the blood. Harvey died in 1657 in his major, I.M.S., eightieth year. Having briefly outlined his career I now turn to his University. Professor of Physiology, Rangoon accomplishments. What do we mean exactly when we Three hundred years ago, in 1628, there appeared say that Harvey discovered the circulation of the from a printing press in Frankfurt, Germany, a small blood ? book written in Latin by an English physician and Before Harvey's time all the facts later known by destined to be hailed throughout the world in later him concerning the structure of the heart and blood- years as the foundation of physiology and of all vessels had already been discovered, and indeed more scientific medicine. than one writer had stated his belief that blood passed The book to which I refer was Exercitatio Ana- from the right side of the heart through the lungs tfviica dc Motu Cordis ct Sanguinis in Animalibus, and thence to the left side of the heart, but no experi- Anatomical Disquisition on the Motion of the mental proof of this had been offered. Although ?nd Blood in Animals) and its author was anatomists had managed to discover all the important } illiam Harvey, a fellow of and lecturer in the Royal facts concerning the structure of the heart and blood of Physicians, and a member of the medical vessels their ideas with regard to how they worked staff~?jlege of St. Bartholomew's Hospital in London. were totally wrong. To anyone who knows of the very ? great and so well recognised has been the in- high standard of professional skill of Vesalius and uence of Harvey's work on the subsequent develop- Fabricius it is amazing that they remained in ignorance ment of biological science in general and of medical of these matters and a most important object lesson is ;Clence in particular, that during the past few months to be drawn from this. crcentenary celebrations have been held on a magni- At that time and for many centuries before, medical cent scale by the leading scientific and academic thought and teaching were entirely dominated by the all over the civilized world, notably in England, writings of one man?Galen of Pergamum, who had p?uiesrance and America. In England, indeed, the celebra- lived in the second century of the Christian era. The arra"Sed ky the Royal College of Physicians works of this man came to be regarded as canonical, h the co-operation of the universities of Oxford criticism of the contained in them was as ?f .views regarded Cambridge were attended by distinguished medical blasphemy, and even when some of the descrip- J^utatives ?f nearly every country and state in the tions of the structure of the body contained in the l?- V>*he delegates being received by His Majesty the books of Galen were shown by dissection to be in- who laid emphasis in his address on accurate there was a strong tendency to ignore facts n , international character of science, which knows and to cling to the doctrines of the Master. Accord- oundaries of race or of nation. ing to Galen the blood, after concoction in the liver, tiin?6 rtor^ Harvey's life has been related many flowed to and fro in the arteries and veins independently ^ate and cven ^e lay newspapers have devoted after the manner of the ebb and flow of the tides. coi/vi rable ne(J space to biographical details. It is un- He supposed that there was an important connexion hnv/Sary. therefore for me to do more than give a between the right and left sides of the heart by means outline of life. of g Harvey's invisible pores and that spirits of three kinds? b;s ?rn..at Folkestone, Kent, in 1578, Harvey received natural, animal and vital?were added in different parts at of the and education Canterbury Grammar School body. ,ier lie \Vent s.ubseque_ntly proceeded to Cambridge, where Harvey broke away from the usual subservience_ to -? residence in Caius College. After taking his the views of Galen. His series of cWr 111 long physiological Italy Cf ^r^s' Harvey proceeded to Padua in North experiments were so admirably conducted and so sities Vhe stud-v ?f medicine, as the English univer- clearly recorded that they may be said even now to be ?f V? those days made provision for the granting a perfect example of how biological research should courses of tioti i degrees, but not for the instruc- be carried out. Harvey found that one, and only one, t0 ? UP thcm" state of affairs could all his At th explain satisfactorily Pfosner'f1 t'me Padua was in the very hey-day of its experimental results, namely that the heart must be ??a flocked to it from all over Europe the prime mover of the that it must pump the sn I8"1* PUP^S blood, of Ann'3 a*traction being the presence of Fabricius same blood over and over again, that the blood leaving a,1atornla^en('Cn^?' a worthy successor in the chair of the right side of the heart must pass through the lungs ? into blood which modern celebrated Vesalius, the father of the left side of the heart, and that the scicntific anatomical After for leaves the left side of the heart of the arteries five Vo study. studying by way reeemviarSL at ^achia Harvey returned to England, must eventually find its way into the veins and come from the University of back to the right side ot the heart once more, having ^mbrid r degree he oht^e'iand subsequently settled in London where a motion as it tc'ere in a circle. a of Physician ^ec*urership in the Royal College Now when we consider that Harvey had no com- pound microscope at his disposal, that he therefore 226 THE INDIAN MEDICAL GAZETTE. [April, 1929.

could not see the minute blood vessels which connect The whole of the Ayurvedic system of medicine is the ends of the arterial branchings to those of the founded on the Tri-Dosha pathology according to veins, and when we dwell on the fact that at that which all disease is the result of the disorder of one time oxygen had not been discovered and that there- or more of the three attributes of living matter?wind, fore respiration was a function unknown, we must water and bile. Ayurvedists' conceptions of the nature marvel at the extremely high standard of excellence of disease have not advanced during the past thousand of Harvey's experiments and at his powers of reason- years, although the claim is made that all modern ing which led him to his conclusions. No person scientific knowledge is to be found in ancient Sanscrit claiming to have received an education in science should documents if only they could be translated properly. fail to read an English translation of Harvey's book; The ease with which exact Sanscrit equivalents are it can be read through in an evening. It records in a found for every new term introduced to cope with simple and easily understood fashion one of the first modern scientific advance, such as hormone, vitamin, and most important attempts to wrest knowledge from sympathetic system and vagotonia, makes one wonder nature by means of careful experiment. Using ex- if similar equivalents cannot also be found for such perimental data Harvey showed that the actual quantity terms as sparking plug, thermionic valve and cathode of blood leaving the heart at each beat, at the velocity ray, to bolster up the claims for the omniscience of the at which he computed it must attain, could only arise ancient Hindus in every branch of human knowledge. from blood flowing back from the veins into the heart Like Harvey one would say I do not think it right from a common circulating stock?this observation con- or proper to take from the Ancients any honour that stituting one of the first applications of the idea is their due, and I would be the last person to de- of measurement to a biological investigation. tract from the achievements of the Ancients who, with Having, inevitably, no conception of the function of the limited means at their disposal, seem to have respiration Harvey was, of course, unaible to give a accomplished marvels. correct of the of the of the At this point it is convenient for me to define explanation object passage " blood the modern scientific medicine." through lungs. " " Now although the discovery of the circulation of the By modern scientific medicine" I mean the blood was of supreme importance to physiology and to prevention, alleviation and, if possible, cure of disease medicine, standing, as it has been put, in the same by any means which can be demonstrated to be relation to these sciences as did the discovery of the efficacious." magnetic compass to the science of navigation, it does It is founded on anatomy and physiology, that is not constitute Harvey's chief claim to rank with the scientific study of the structure and functions of Galileo, Darwin and Newton as an outstanding leader the body; on pathology,?the study of abnormal struc- in the advancement of science. His claim rests rather ture and function; on pharmacology?the study of the upon the attitude which he adopted towards the writ- actions of drugs on the normal and abnormal body; ings and dicta of the recognised authorities of the and on psychology and psycho-pathology?the study time, on the experimental methods which he devised of the normal and abnormal mind. solution of for the the problems confronting him, and Stress must be laid on the fact that much of our on the clear-headed inductive which led him reasoning progress depends on the application of advances made to his conclusions. in the two basic sciences?chemistry and physics. Help reason for William the My making Harvey subject is gratefully received from any source whatsoever, of this address is not that it is incumbent on us only many of the most important advances being made by to recall to our memories at this time one on whose men with qualifications in pure science only, and this work our science and art is but also that I founded, line of advance becomes more important every year on think that we can find in and Harvey's writings account of the fact that science is becoming so highly methods many points which are to the very applicable specialised that it is impossible for any one man to do medical us in the Indian problems facing Empire more than have a thorough knowledge of one small to-day. branch. Nor must we forget the important advances We have seen that for very many years before in therapeutics which have been made from time to was born in of the Harvey progress knowledge work- time by rude and uncultured natives in all parts of the of the was ing body definitely hindered, nay, rendered globe, two of the most important being the discovery wellnigh impossible, by undue reverence for the of the efficacy of cinchona bark in malaria by the of men writings who, although hampered by inadequate South American Indians and of the virtues of fox- means of had centuries before formulated investigation, glove leaves by English rustics. If at any time an doctrines with to structure and func- regard bodily accepted theory proves to be incorrect it is discarded tion. Instead of what could have discarding easily or modified and a better one is substituted, for the been to be men shut their to proved wrong, eyes any chief use of a theory is to provide a working explana- discovered facts which .did not fit in with the newly tion for a particular group of phenomena until a doctrines of the Ancients. better and more accurate explanation can be found. We have in the Indian Empire to-day an exactly Compare this state of affairs with medicine according parallel situation. to any of the numerous systems which have had their Many hundreds of years ago when the inhabitants vogue?the Ayurvedic system, the Homoeopathic system, of most of those parts of the world to which the the Allopathic system?each based on a specific and majority of scientific investigators now belong were unalterable doctrine?and pursuing an unaltered course rude and illiterate savages, there were in India as in throughout the years. Harvey, with his intimate China and other parts of the Orient many distinguished acquaintance with the evil wrought by the doctrine " " thinkers and workers in medicine and surgery as in of Hands off the Ancients was constrained to write other departments of learning. In India medical in the introduction to De Motn Cordis; true philoso- historians look back with justifiable pride on such phers who are only eager for truth and knowledge stalwarts as Susruta, Charaka and Vagbhata who, never regard themselves as already so thoroughly nearly two thousand years ago, had made considerable formed but that they welcome further information progress in medicine and surgery. These Indian from whomsoever and from whcnccsoevcr it may come- workers, however, have shared the fate of Galen in Nor are they so narrow minded as to imagine any of the West, and exponents of national Indian medicine the Arts or Sciences transmitted to us by the Ancients or that are now engaged in teaching and in basing their prac- in such a state of forzvardness completeness tice on the archaic physiological and pathological nothing is left for the ingenuity and industry of others. 1,1 doctrines laid down in the original Sanscrit so many Neither do they pin their faith to others' precepts to centuries ago, and in explaining away any glaring dis- such wise that they lose their liberty and cease crepancies between their own doctrines and modern give credence to the conclusions of their proper senses. scientific discoveries by finding new and hitherto un- Neither do they swear such fealty to their mistress?' thought of meanings for old Sanscrit words. Antiquity?that they openly and in sight of all desert Aprii,, 1929.] WILLIAM HARVEY'S MESSAGE TO INDIA: McROBERT. 227 their -friend Truth. Neither do they think it unworthy of the proposed course should be devoted to acquiring ?f them to change their opinion if truth and undoubted a sound knowledge of mathematics and physics. " demonstration require them to do so: nor do they Doctrinaire formula worship?that is our real e*teem it discreditable to desert error sanc- and is true though _ enemy" says Neuberger, this especially tioned by the highest authority. Yet to-day in the when the health of the people of India seems to be Indian Empire we have large numbers of the intelli- in danger of being entrusted to devotees of antiquated, gensia demanding that particular systems of medicine worn out and never changing cults. Let us in the should be developed and subsidised by government on Empire of India ever keep before us those words of historical, sentimental and political grounds. Harvey which should be inscribed in letters of gold One even finds among the ranks of the Ayurvedists over the entrance to every teaching institution?Search men who have been trained in modern medicine and out and study the secrets of nature by way of experi- " " who give the partition of Bengal," The Amritsar 'ment, and let us ever remember Harvey's words which or some other as the reason we find in the introduction to The Generation of shooting" political episode " f?r their defection. What would one think if one Animals. Without the due admonition of the senses, heard that an eminent Indian physicist had abandoned zvithout frequent observation and reiterated experiment the atomic theory as a protest against diarchy, or that our mind goes astray after phantoms and appearances. a Well-known mathematician had denied that is Diligent observation is therefore requisite in every the three_ are square root of nine as a protest against high science and the senses to be frequently appealed railway fares? These examples are ridiculous, but to. We are, I say, to strive after personal experience their exact counterpart in medical science is accepted ?not to rely on the experience of others?without as a necessary consequence of political unrest. which, indeed, no one can properly become a student of any branch natural science. I would not have Here I must make it quite clear that there is a pro- of " to take on trust me? found difference between medicine" and you, gentle reader, anything from indigenous I own as indigenous medicines." appeal to your eyes my zvitness and judge. It The method of investigating truth commonly pursued is more than a little unfortunate that the word at this time is to be held erroneous and almost foolish, Medicine should be used in two entirely different in which so many enquire what others have said and senses: in the as a for the art ^ first place designation ntf omit to ask whether the things themselves be actually science of and and preserving restoring health, so or not." Surely these words written three hundred to denote the and other sub- s^c?nd drugs therapeutic years ago are highly applicable to conditions in India ances used in that art and science. One to-day. commonly hears persons who do not fully under- ar>d From what I have said you will, I hope, readily the distinction assert that the indigenous systems understand why Harvey's name is revered in the world medicine should be be- supported and encouraged of science?not because he was the discoverer of ? just derived from fruits and herbs U^f drugs growing the circulation of the blood, nor because he was the he must more eft country be cheaper and probably first to introduce the idea of epigenesis into biology, cacious than those from abroad. It cannot ke brought but mainly because he set flame to the torch which that modern is tQoto?. fully recognised medicine only lights the only safe path to the discovery of Truth in to try and to employ any medicinal sub- stan '.jn& biological science?diligent and patient experimentation. from whatsoever source it be obta-e efficacious, may Mark too how, no doubt partly as the result of the ' and for the most distant of many years portions application of Harvey's own methods, the world of /l1 earth have substance Wijj ,e been ransacked for any science has dealt with those portions of Harvey's works he of even the and slightest therapeutic value; in which, in the light of later scientific discovery, such g'1 the is to ^edir i tendency nowadays synthesise as those in oxidation, combustion and respiration, we ? substanees in the laboratory the Search artificially now know that wrong conclusions were reached. These ^oes on- To assume as sons ri then, many per- wrong views have been discarded without even a pass- ?' there is between rtioder ^at something incompatible ing regret. How different from the fate of the mis- -n scientific medicine and the employment of taken views of Galen and of the earlier Indian remedies is as as is the '^'Senous just wrong physicians whose doctrines were and are still upheld as?US tbe ^est remedies for the diseases SUrni)-ti?n 011 sentimental and I say it would Preval ln political grounds. be any particular country must necessarily imply no disrespect for national heroes, no act of fo^nt from the soil of that land. We kno;:una, growing treachery or lack of patriotism on the part of the Cven I think, admit that ttiedicia Ayurvedists will, doctors of any particular nation to-day to abandon ?f xvas to deal with three practically powerless ? to them on , tv,?neu>e mnct a?11 ,? - - . . exploded theories instead of clinging d;.?. most deadly diseases* of Ea?-malaria amttbic and patriotic grounds. Si ntery- kala-azar?until non-mdigenous tlri g. Before concluding I should like to refer briefly to p^"e introduced by modem scientific . le another aspect of Harvey's life?namely that of his onp e^ectual treatment of malaria wPjactit attitude towards his brother and fellow ^ .or more of the derivatives of cinchona bark physicians ln-e^ a practitioners. Am *rom tree indigenous in I cru ini to most bitter he main- }D erica> which continent we are also m Towards even his opponents an I11 his own words: JPeeacuanha and its potcnt derivative eraetme. We tained attitude of courtesy. savc To return evil zi'ith evil I hold to fro "T thousands annually m India an speaking speaking th a from kala-azar?a disease with be umi'orthy of a philosopher and of searcher after rat^ to 1916 or truth. I believe I shall do better and more advisedly e so of almost nil-for with the: new rt>o I meet so indications ill breeding with the antimony compounds we arc able if many of covery rate of and conclusive observation. over 90 per cent. light of faithful was a generous man. He built at his own ? different matter, however, fromthc employ- Harvey m;lve?' museum and of the College teme ?lative remedies is the use of ,n expense the library Royal ?f gc, of and handed over his lifetime dem medicine built up on a fount < Physicians during ably his estate of Burmarsh in Kent, endowing Phv5ni wro?S a5ld non-progressive patrimonial gy' and a"?*0?/' also the annual feast 011 St. Luke's day, at which deln Pathology, and owing its all to the annual Harveian oration is delivered. Mo? -silent brains of long-gone ancient banquet the that ,u seem to me to improve matters to 1? Harvey stipulated that in this oration the speaker of of the said tertls sJchools Ayurveda and other indigenous sys should exhort the Fellows and Members 5n the secrets th?10deI'n anatomy and physiology should be taught college not only to search out and study but also the honour leaS iarl,er classes before the student passes on to of nature by way ,of experiment for in mutual love and UseW ancient system. To me it seems J of the profession to continue affec- aS lt: that centrin would be to institute a scb??l ^ tion among themselves, ever remembering discordia astronomy with the proviso that the first y Concordia res parvce crescunt, magnce 228 THE INDIAN MEDICAL GAZETTE. [April, 1929. dilabuntur... (By harmony even small things become great but discord brings even great things to ruin). There is, I a great need in the Indian think, to-day " Empire for the of more mutual love and development " affection" between medical men, and for the honour of the profession" it is to be hoped that something of the Harveian spirit will spread throughout our ranks in India, as I can imagine nothing more derogatory to the dignity and honour of our noble profession than the bickering, snarling, and intriguing, which are rife to-day between government and non- government doctors, between the different grades of practitioners, and between the adherents of ancient and modern methods of treatment. Fortunately we in Burma are not yet seriously embroiled in these matters, but I am sorry to say that in some parts of India a bitter strife goes on. May it soon cease, in order that the true objects of the medical profession?the com- mon good and the public weal?may be restored to their proper places in the forefront of our activities.