OF THE OX. 315 



these laws common to the plant, to the shell, 

 to every species of vertebrata, reappears in man, 

 whose organization comprises all the functions 

 divided among the other organic kingdoms. 

 Not only does the organization of man obey 

 the laws which govern the vital phenomena of 

 other animals ; not only does he possess their 

 organs and functions, but he is a tributary 

 subject to their diseases. So that the know- 

 ledge of the laws affecting the functions and 

 diseases of those creatures which are placed 

 below him in the scale of animals ought to be 

 the first foundation of all medical study. 



These truths are too manifest to be new; 

 they are written and professed everywhere, and 

 every one amongst us has received generaj 

 notions of comparative anatomy and physiology 

 at the beginning of his course of study. But 

 let us admit that these notions only served to 

 expand the circle of our knowledge and ideas, 

 and that we seldom or never apply them to 

 the practice of our art. It would have been 

 very different had we received at the beginning 

 of our medical novitiate, not merely in theory 

 and books, but practically and experimentally, 

 precise notions of anatomy, physiology, and, 



