PREFACE. 



THE Preface to this little volume may be written in a few 

 words. It first saw the light in the spring of 1840, and now, 

 in the autumn of 1844, has reached its Third Edition. In this 

 short period, less than five years, five thousand copies have 

 been distributed among the Members of the Profession, many 

 also taking their place in the libraries of Gentlemen, who, 

 altlough not of the Profession, justly consider that some ge- 

 neral knowledge of the structure of the body is an essential 

 part of a liberal education. In the same period, a second 

 edition of the work has appeared in America ; and a transla- 

 tion, from the pen of Dr. Hollstein, has been completed in 

 Berlin. 



Thus the volume has quickly returned for review to the 

 hands of the Author ; and he trusts that an examination of the 

 second and present editions will prove that he has not neg- 

 lected this advantage. He has carefully corrected such over- 

 sights and omissions as may have occurred in the completion 

 of a work on so extensive a subject ; many parts which seemed 

 scantily treated, he has entirely re-written ; and he has endea- 

 voured to give as full a description of every point in Anatomy, 

 whether important or trivial, as is consistent with the limits 

 and objects of a Practical Manual. 



Two features in the Anatomist's Vade Mecum appear to the 

 Author to deserve notice : the first relates to the labours of 

 his professional brethren ; the second to the illustrations con- 

 tained in the work. On the first of these heads the Author 

 begs to remark, that he considers it a duty, as well to them as 

 to his readers and himself, to quote all recent observations and 



