* PREFACE 



and the whole structure of their bodies adapted to the air in 

 which they fly, and the food by which they are sustained above 

 all, the wonders of the human frame, the numerous parts of 

 which it is composed; the hundreds of bones and muscles, the 

 thousands of veins and arteries, glands, nerves, and lymphatics 

 the heart with its ventricles and auricles, the brain, "with its in- 

 finity of fibres, the lungs with their millions of vesicles, * * * 

 these and thousands of similar objects, adaptation and con- 

 trivances which appear throughout every part of the universal 

 system." 



" One great practical end," says he, " which should always be 

 kept in view in the study of physiology, is the invigoration and 

 improvement of the corporeal powers and functions, the preser- 

 vation of health, and the prevention of disease." 



All these, and many other subjects of a similar nature, are 

 noticed in this volume, and if the author has succeeded in adapt- 

 ing his language and manner to the understanding of youth, he 

 cannot but hope that this treatise will be the means of greatly 

 increasing the knowledge of the rising generation in one of the 

 most interesting and useful departments of natural science; and 

 at the same time of directing their attention, especially that of 

 females, to the preservation of their forms and their health, by 

 avoiding habits and fashions, which at once deform their persons 

 and ruin their constitutions. 



To avoid the necessity of frequently quoting authorities, we 

 subjoin a list of authors which have been consulted in the prog- 

 ress of the more strictly physiological part of this work ; the ap- 

 plication of these principles toward the sequel, being chiefly the 

 original suggestions of the author. 



Among the authors consulted, we are especially indebted to 

 the " Bridgewater Treatise on Animal and Vegetable Physiol- 

 ogy," by Dr. Roget. From this, much matter and many cuts 

 have been taken. 



Dr. Ticknor, " On the Philosophy of Living," Harpers' Fam- 

 ily Library, No. 77, contains a mass of sound and valuable ob- 

 servations on many of the various subjects on which it treats, 

 but was unknown to the author until too late for him to take 

 much advantage from the matter it contains. Dr. Alcott's little 

 book, " The House I live in," is an original and curious treatise, 

 and is well calculated to arrest the attention of children, and to 

 instruct them with respect to the structure of their bodies. 



Dr. Combe's Physiology, No. 77, Harpers' Family Library, is 

 a highly valuable and sufficiently popular work on the subject, 

 and ought to be read by every parent and school-teacher. 



HARTFORD, Connecticut, July, 1836. 



