INTRODUCTORY REMARKS. 15 



It is above all things important that the teacher be persuaded, 

 and persuade his pupils to believe the fact, that this subject is an 

 easy one to learn. The body is not that complex apparatus it at 

 first seems to be. This impression is induced by the manner in 

 which its parts are packed, and as it were interwoven, in order 

 that they may occupy a small space and present a neat appear- 

 ance. But when the body is properly resolved into its constit- 

 uent elements, they will be found few in number, easily compre- 

 hended ; and a student will quickly learn how to build them 

 up and take them down, and the correct philosophy of all the 

 circumstances that work their harm or good. 



The subject sometimes appears difficult and tedious on ac- 

 count of the many details and technical expressions with which 

 it is encumbered. Most of these are entirely unnecessary in a 

 work for popular use. 



Let teachers observe and inculcate the very marked distinction, 

 in this respect, between popular and professional use. The latter 

 requires a knowledge of a thousand details and a corresponding 

 number of terms, while professional writings so abound in tech- 

 nical expressions, that the sooner a professional student becomes 

 familiar with them the better. "When familiar with them, and 

 most of his knowledge has been obtained in part through their 

 use, it will be more difficult for him to express himself other- 

 wise, than to translate from one language to another. Hence 

 the multiplicity of such expressions in works intended for 

 general use. It is better for the popular student to have the 

 translation made, however inconvenient it may be to the wri- 

 ter ; for the expressions are often awkward, and always sound 

 pedantic outside of professional circles. It will be difficult for 

 him to understand their true force, and he has not the time to 

 make himself familiar with them. The various details, and the 

 few terms necessary or of any advantage to him, will be so evi- 

 dently convenient, that they will neither be, nor appear to be, 

 burdensome. Even the use of these had better be avoided in 



