368 ANATOMICAL PREPARATIONS 
Upon our own exertions muft we therefore chiefly de- 
pend for building up the medical fabric, ereCling ufe- 
ful temples of the healing arts, and diffufing the lights. 
we can kindle through this new world. J know no one 
ftep that can be more ufeful to accomplifh this undertak- 
ing, than to teach the art of inveftigating the ftru€ture of 
the different parts of the animal body, by injetions and: 
corrofions, and other preparations of wax. 
Such is the prefent flate of anatomy in this country: 
that there are at prefent but very few, I believe I may fay. 
no fuch preparations worth mentioning to be met with 
here, that have been made in America. Doctor Chovet, 
now refident in this city has indeed a good colleétion of 
wax preparations, of different parts of the human body, 
which he made in. his younger days and brought hither 
from Europe. But nothing of this kind has hitherto 
been practifed, or it has been fo taught as never to have: 
been of lafting ufe to any that I know of. 
Being well acquainted with the general defire that fills 
the breafts of my countrymen, to acquire and improve 
every kind of f{cience that is. ufeful, which is properly laid 
before them, I truft this attempt will ftir up many to 
learn and practife thofe leflons which, for their particular 
benefit, I now unfold to them; nor do I doubt in a little time 
but we fhall fee fuch an emulation kindled for improving 
on thefe hints, thatall kinds of ufeful preparations will be fo 
common after a while, as not only to give rife to anato- 
mical cabinets and repofitaries for fpecimens of the ani- 
mal, vegetable and foflil kingdoms, as will tend to throw 
great light upon philofophy in general, but contribute to lay 
a folid and ufeful foundation of natural hiftory in America. 
The firft rudiments of this art that 1 acquired was 
from the two Hunters, known through all Europe for 
their fuperior {kill in anatomy, and acting as practical dif- 
fector to the celebrated do€tors Colignon and Smith, pro- 
feflors ofanatomy inthe univerfities of Cambridge and Ox- 
ford, 
