By CORROSION. 367 
body, and of the ation and ufes of the veffels containing, 
as well as of the humours contained in them. In parti- 
cular, it behoves every practitioner of phyfic to ftudy the 
vafcular texture and compofition of the vifcera, for upon 
their healthful action the continuance of life, free from 
difeafe, principally depends; and the more their functions 
are injured, the more dangerous difeafes are thereby ge- 
nerated. From a relaxation of them arife atonia and weak- 
nefs, and from obftruGtion of them infarétions, inflamma- 
tions, tumors and fchirri are produced. ‘To an acquaint- 
ance with their ftructure and anaftomofes, and the fluids 
they carry, we mutt be chiefly indebted for our knowledge 
of the doétrines of refolution and fuppuration, and for the 
indications that point out to the phyfician by what means 
to accomplith thefe defirable events, according to circum-= 
ftances. 
The little progrefs which praCtical anatomy has hitherto 
made in America, and the great confequence it may be of 
to the rifing ftudents of phyfic and furgery, to employ 
more of their attention on this ufeful fubject, are my mo- 
tives for laying before you this eflay, in hopes through 
this channel to ftir them up to profecute it with more zeal 
and ardor. This becomes the more neceflary, becaufé, 
owing to the late revolution, the fubjects of North-America 
having eftablifhed themfelves into independent ftates, have 
at prefent lefs commerce and lefs intercourfe with the learn- 
ed and polifhed nations of Europe. At leaft fewer ftudents 
from America have recourfe to them for improvement in 
the knowledge of their profeffion than formerly, in as much 
as medical {chools and colleges have been founded in feve- 
ral of thefe different ftates, fince the author of this eflay 
firft recommended and affifted in carrying into execution 
the plan of tranfplanting phyfic, as a fcience, from acrofs 
the ocean, by inftituting medical {chools on this weftern 
fide of the Atlantic*. 
Aaa 2 Upon 
* See his difcourfe on the inftitution of medical fchools in America, delivered at a pub= 
lic commencement in the college of Philadelphia, May 1765. 
