Oxford and the Development of Physiology, with Notes on the Nuffield Institute for Medical Research

Abstract

As background for appreciating the development of fetal and newborn physiology, undoubtedly some of the earliest studies on the embryo and fetus that can be classified as scientific were done by William Harvey (Fig. 3.1a). He recorded in the early 1630s, shortly following publication of his monumental Exercitatio anatomica de motu cordis… (Harvey 1628), that, with the privilege and blessing of King James I (1566–1625; King from 1603 to death) and King Charles I (Charles Stuart; 1600–1649; King from 1625 to his death), for both of whom Harvey served as personal physician, investigations on various aspects of generation in deer and other animals that resided at the King’s estate. In addition to providing animals from the Royal preserves, Harvey wrote that he had daily opportunity to dissect and study the reproductive and genital organs. Of this patronage, he also credits the King with taking a great interest in his work, for instance, “… my Royal master (whose Physitian I was, and who was himself much delighted in this kind of curiosity, being many times pleased to be an eye-witness, and to assert my new inventions)” (Harvey 1653, p. 397). A Royalist, in anticipation of the Civil War, Harvey later accompanied King Charles to Scotland, and following the Battle of Edgehill (23 October 1642), the first major action of the Civil War, the Royal party settled and set up Court in Oxford. Within several months, Harvey was appointed warden of Merton College. Here, Harvey took advantage of the opportunity to resume studies of the development of hen’s egg that he had commenced earlier. He conducted these studies in the rooms of George Bathurst, an Anglican divine of Trinity College, who had a hen to hatch eggs in his chamber which they opened day after day, “That we may the better discover what the… incubation hath produced” (1653, p. 80). Relatively uninterrupted by the political upheavals that surrounded him, Harvey pursued his embryological studies. As an aside, it should be noted that during the Civil War, the period of parliamentarian rule during the Interregnum and continuing through the Restoration, as a Royalist stronghold, Oxford was fiercely loyal to the Crown.

The business and design of the Royal Society is- to improve the knowledge of natural things, and all useful Arts, Manufactures, Mechanick practices, Engynes and Inventions by Experiments-(not meddling with Divinity, Metaphysics, Moralls, Politicks, Grammar, Rhetorick or Logick)…. All to advance the glory of God, the honour of the King…the benefit of his Kingdom, and the general good of mankind.

(Hooke 1663, In C R Weld 1848 p.146)