Vl PREFACE 



(4) In the course of study prescribed in New York City 

 for first-year biology, physiology is taught in connection 

 with botany and zoology. This has been found to be a most 

 fortunate arrangement, for the pupil is easily interested to 

 consider physiological processes from a comparative stand- 

 point. Because of the interest added thereby to the subject, 

 there have been inserted in the book several sections on the 

 physiology of some of our common animals and plants. 



(5) Since pupils sometimes get an impression that the 

 facts of physiology have always been known, the historical 

 development of the subject has been frequently referred to ; 

 some of the mistakes made by early physiologists have been 

 pointed out ; and the pupil is led to appreciate the fact that 

 a great many biological problems are still unsolved. 



(6) Throughout the book, unless common names fail 

 to give sufficient precision, scientific terminology has been 

 avoided. Whenever technical terms are used, their division 

 into syllables is given, and their Latin and Greek deriva- 

 tions are noted. 



(7) In all States of the Union but two the statute law 

 prescribes that a certain amount of instruction shall be 

 given regarding the effects of alcohol and narcotics. To 

 fulfill the requirements of these laws twenty pages relating 

 to this subject have been inserted. In this connection 

 extensive quotations have been made from the most recent 

 report of the Committee of Fifty, on the "Physiological 

 Aspects of the Liquor Problem." This non-partisan com- 

 mittee, composed of men eminent in science and education, 

 has been working on this problem for nearly ten years. 

 Their conclusions have, therefore, great weight of authority. 



(8) And, finally, while it cannot be hoped that this book 

 is entirely free from errors, I have used every means at 

 hand to secure this end, and I wish to express my deep 

 indebtedness to my friends for their suggestions and criti- 

 cisms. The manuscript was carefully read by Miss Martha 

 F. Goddard of the Department of Biology, Morris High 



