RT Journal Article SR Electronic T1 Harvey, clinical medicine and the College of Physicians JF Clinical Medicine JO Clin Med FD Royal College of Physicians SP 584 OP 590 DO 10.7861/clinmedicine.2-6-584 VO 2 IS 6 A1 Roger French YR 2002 UL http://www.rcpjournals.org/content/2/6/584.abstract AB This article deals with the problems of seeing Harvey historically, rather than as a construction seen from the viewpoint of modern medicine. It deals with his programme of work, the expectations of his audience, his intellectual training and the political and religious circumstances of seventeenth century Europe. It shows that at the time the impact of Harvey's discovery was negative on clinical medicine and its theory, but also shows ways in which that impact was favourable.