IV PREFACE. 



ted to the air in which they fly, and the food by which they are 

 sustained above all, the wonders of the human frame, the numer- 

 ous parts of which it is composed; the hundreds of bones, and mus- 

 cles, the thousands of veins and arteries, glands, nerves, and lympha- 

 tics the heart with its ventricles and auricles, the brain, with its 

 infinity of fibres, the lungs with their millions of vesicles, * * 

 'these and thousands of similar objects, adaptation and contrivan- 

 ces will afford ample scope for expatiating on the power, wisdom, 

 and intelligence of the Almighty Creator, and the benevolent con- 

 trivances which appear throughout every part of the universal 

 system." 



"One great practical end," says he, c< which should always be kept 

 in view in the study of physiology is the invigoration and improve- 

 ment of the corporeal powers, and functions, the preservation of 

 health, and the prevention of disease." 



All these, and many other subjects of a similar nature are noticed 

 in this volume, and if the author has succeeded in adapting his lan- 

 guage and manner to the understanding of youth, he cannot but 

 hope that this treatise will be the means of greatly increasing the 

 knowledge of the rising generation, in one of the most interesting 

 and useful departments of natural science; and at the same time of 

 directing their attention, especially that of females, to the preserva- 

 tion of their forms, and their health, by avoiding habits and fashions, 

 which at once deform their persons and ruin their constitutions. 



To avoid the necessity of frequently quoting authorities, we sub- 

 join a list of authors which have been consulted in the progress of 

 the more strictly physiological part of this work, the application of 

 these principles towards the sequel, being chiefly the original sug- 

 gestions of the author. 



Among the authors consulted, we are especially indebted to the 

 " Bridgewater Treatise, on Animal and Vegetable Physiology," by 

 Mr. Roget. From this, much matter and many cuts have been 

 taken. 



Dr. Ticknor " On the Philosophy of Living," Harpers' Family 

 Library, No. 77, contains a mass of sound and valuable observations 

 on many of the various subjects on which it treats, but was un- 

 known to the author, until too late for him to take much advantage 

 from the matter it contains. Dr. Alcott's little book, " The House 

 I live in," is an original and curious treatise, and is well calculated 

 to arrest the attention of children, and to instruct them with respect 

 to the structure of their bodies. 



Dr. Combe's Physiology, No. 77 Harpers' Family Library, is a 

 highly valuable and sufficiently popular work on the subject, and 

 ought to be read by every parent, and school teacher. 



The author expected to have inserted at the close of the volume, 

 a short treatise on the peculiar application of Callisthenics, guided 

 by music, as an exciting and proper exercise for young ladies, but 

 have to regret that it was not received in time, and therefore must 

 be deferred until the next edition. It is by Miss C. E. Beecher. 

 Hartford, Connecticut, July 1836. 



