PREFACE vii 



School. Especially valuable criticism has been given too 

 by Mr. Harold E. Foster of the English Department of the 

 Morris High School, and by Dr. F. C. Waite of the Western 

 Eeserve Medical School, Cleveland, Ohio. I am also in- 

 debted for suggestions to Dr. Frank Rollins of the Depart- 

 ment of Physics, to Mr. Sanford L. Cutler of the Classical 

 Department, and to Mr. J. M. Johnson and other members 

 of the Department of Biology of the Morris High School. 

 In preparing the chapter on foods I have received much 

 assistance from a leading investigator on foods and nutri- 

 tion. Dr. T. Mitchell Prudden of the College of Physicians 

 and Surgeons has made valuable suggestions for the sec- 

 tions relating to bacteria, and Dr. 0. S. Strong of Columbia 

 University has read and criticised the chapter on the ner- 

 vous system. In 1898 the New York State Science Teach- 

 ers' Association appointed a Committee of Five, of which 

 the author is a member, to find out what is known in regard 

 to the effects of alcohol and narcotics on the human body. 

 To the other members of this committee I am indebted for 

 help in writing the sections relating to alcohol and nar- 

 cotics. 



J. B. P. 



THE MORRIS HIGH SCHOOL, 

 June 15, 1903. 



