viii PKEFACE 



I have deemed it a hopeless and indeed a useless task to give any full 

 account of the multifarious methods employed in the experimental investiga- 

 tion of the different organs of the body. In most cases I have consigned to 

 small type a description of one or two typical methods, which would suffice 

 to show how the questions may be approached from the experimental side. 



Throughout the work I have sought to show that the only foundation 

 for rational therapeutics is the proper understanding of the working of the 

 healthy body. Until we know more about the physiology of nutrition, 

 quacks will thrive and food faddists abound. Ignorance of physiology 

 tends to make a medical man as credulous as his patients and almost as 

 easily beguiled by the specious puffings of the advertising druggist. I trust, 

 therefore, that the following pages will be found of value not only to the 

 candidate for a university degree but also to the practitioner of medicine in 

 equipping him for his struggle against the factors of disease. 



In the selection of diagrams for the illustration of this book I am especi- 

 ally indebted to Professor Schafer and, to his publishers, Messrs. Longmans, 

 for the permission to make use of a large number from Quain's " Anatomy " 

 and from Schafer 's " Essentials of Histology." I must also express my 

 obligation to Professor Wilson for the use of certain figures from his admirable 

 work on the cell, to the publishers of Cunningham's " Anatomy," and to 

 many physiological friends, especially to Dr. Mott and Dr. Gordon Holmes, 

 for the use of original diagrams. The index was kindly made for me by 

 Mr. Lovatt Evans. 



ERNEST H. STARLING 



UNIVERSITY COLLEGE, LONDON 

 May 1912 



