Memorial to a Medical Man

This less than inspiring view hides quite an interesting story.  It was bought in 1966 by my father, presumably because of the statue which can be seen in the bottom left corner.  The information on the back of the card reads:

Harvey Memorial, The Leas, Folkestone
A popular resort as well as being a cross-channel port, Folkestone is renowned for its beautiful gardens and walks.  The Leas is a magnificent marine parade of which Folkestone is justly proud.  Folkestone is reached by roads A20, A259, and A260.

It is interesting that the publishers saw fit to mention the Harvey Memorial but then to wax lyrical about Folkestone with no further explanation.

William Harvey, born in Folkestone in 1578, was the first doctor to describe the circulation of the blood.  He went to school in Canterbury, then to university at Cambridge and then Padua in Italy.  He returned to London to be a doctor at St Bartholomew's Hospital, now frequently known as Barts.  It was in 1628 that he published his "Anatomical Exercise of the Motion of the Heart and Blood in Animals".  He described how the heart works as a pump and how the blood circulates around the body.  In its time, this was revolutionary but there seemed to be no practical application for the knowledge.  It wasn't going to save any lives.

Little changed in the practice of medicine, blood-letting, leeching and lancing continued for many years, but eventually the new understanding was put to some practical use. In the 17th century, the first intravenous injections were performed.  Now of course, his work is recognised as one of the most important contributions to the history of medicine.

Folkestone has changed little since the publication of that card.  The styles and manufacturers of the cars have changed, of course, and Folkestone is no longer a cross-channel ferry port, but The Leas are exactly the same, and the memorial to a great man remains understated, and unremarkable. 

My father will have noticed it because he was a doctor himself.  Little did he know at the time that he bought the card, that he would end up living not 15 minutes away from Folkestone.  Another coincidence, today would have been my father's 94th birthday.

M is for Memorial to a Medical Man.  A post for ABC Wednesday.