PREFACE 



THIS work is designed to present the leading facts and 

 principles of human physiology and hygiene in clear and 

 concise language, so that pupils in schools and colleges, and 

 readers not familiar with the subjects, may readily compre- 

 hend them. Anatomy, or a description of the structure of 

 an organ, is of course necessary to the understanding of its 

 physiology, or its uses. Enough of the former study has, 

 therefore, been introduced to enable the pupil to enter intel- 

 ligently upon the latter. 



Familiar language^ as far as practicable, has been em- 

 ployed, rather than that of a technical character. With a 

 view, however, to supply what might seem to some a defi- 

 ciency in this regard, a Pronouncing Glossary has been added, 

 which will enable the inquirer to understand the meaning 

 of many scientific terms not in common use. 



In the preparation of the work the writer has carefully 

 examined all the best material at his command, and freely 

 used it; the special object being to have it abreast of the 

 present knowledge on the subjects treated, as far as that is 

 possible in a work so elementary as this. The discussion of 

 disputed points has been avoided, it being manifestly inap- 

 propriate in a work of this kind. 



The aim of a text-book on physiology for schools and col- 

 leges should be to present in the simplest and clearest pos- 

 sible manner the well-established facts of the subject to be 

 taught, so that the students may obtain an intelligent idea of 

 the workings and uses of the human body. It should be 



