But that absolute ocular demonstration of the truth of
the views he had maintained throughout his life it was not granted to
Harvey to see. What he did experience was this: that on the
publication of his doctrines, they were met with the greatest possible
opposition; and I have no doubt savage things were uttered in those old
controversies, and that a great many people said that these new-fangled
doctrines, reducing living processes to mere mechanism, would sap the
foundations of religion and morality. I do not know for certain that
they did, but they said things very like it. The first point was to
show that Harvey's views were absolutely untrue; and not being able to
succeed in that, opponents said they were not new; and not being able
to succeed in that, that they didn't matter. That is the usual course
with all new discoveries. But Harvey troubled himself very little
about these things. He remained perfectly quiet; for although reputed
a hot-tempered man, he never would have anything to do with controversy
if he could help it; and he only replied to one of his antagonists
after twenty years' interval, and then in the most charming spirit of
candour and moderation.
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