THE author's preface. XT 



because the theoretical part of it heing extensive, it did 

 iiot seem proper to connect it with a series of observations 

 which so intimately relate to the practice of medicine. 



For though I have had occasion to notice diseases aris- 

 ing from worms, both in the clinical institute and in my 

 private practice ; yet perceiving no great importance in 

 bringing together observations thus collected, I judged it 

 proper not to communicate them to tl\e public, nor to speak 

 of them in this work. 



Many of my pupils however who recollected the Trea- 

 tise on the principal worms of the living human body, as 

 well as on some diseases called verminous, which I had 

 composed for their instruction, and publicly exhibited in 

 the scholastic year of 1798, have frequently expressed to 

 me the pleasure they should derive from having it in their 

 own hands. It is not tlierefore an unbecoming ambition, 

 nor the desire of useless applause, that prompts me to pub- 

 lish the four Lectures whicli compose this Treatise, but 

 merely the obligation of yielding to the solicitations of 

 those who are to be instructed in so essential a part of 

 practical medicine, and who have not the means of con- 

 sulting the prodigious number of books in different lan- 

 guages, which treat of human worms, and which are not 

 obtained without much difficulty. I now resolve the more 

 willingly to publish these Lectures, as the late examina- 

 tion of the works of the Italian physicians has convinced 

 me of the deficiency of medico-practical instruction relative 

 to the principal human worms, and the diseases they ex- 

 cite, and which should be directed in conformity to princi- 

 ples which the philosopliical ])hysician knows how to ap- 

 preciate, because they are solid and incontestable. 



Though the reader may approve my efforts, I am far 

 from flattering myself that I have obtained the end in view. 



I have merely the pleasure of being able once more to 

 make known my zeal fur the good of humanity, and my 

 desire to contribute as much as possible to tho advance- 

 ment of the healing art. 



