P E E F A C E. 



The great progress of the Medical Sciences, and the increasing 

 number and size of the standard text-books in the various depart- 

 ments of Medicine and Surgery, have created a necessity for *' Com- 

 pends," or " Manuals," to assist the student in the prosecution of 

 his labours, and the practitioner in refreshing his recollection of 

 former studies. 



The present v^^ork has been prepared solely to meet this want. 

 No one could pretend to compress into so limited a space all 

 the information necessary to the student or practitioner: but we 

 hope to have succeeded in embodying in its pages the elements 

 of medical science; as much, indeed, as is compatible with its 

 character as an .analysis. While, therefore, the volume is not 

 offered as a substitute for the ordinary text-books, or to lessen the 

 necessity of regular attendance on lectures, or close office study, 

 we trust that it may be found of practical use in facilitating the 

 acquisition of knowledge by the student. 



The very plan of the work excludes all pretensions to originality 

 of matter. As an Analytical Compendium, its highest claim is 

 to be considered a faithful digest of recorded facts and opinions. 

 We ask for it nothing more, and, to obtain this, we have freely used 

 the standard text-books of the day, gleaning from them whatever 

 seemed useful to our purposes, even in some instances to the use 

 of language as well as ideas, and to them we own our indebted- 



