vi INTRODUCTIpN AND DEDICATION. 



mentation, &c. Your theory will, at least, lead to experiment, while his, if 

 I comprehend it, leads to nothing, and is only a way of saying that we don't 

 understand the subject.*' 



It would scarcely be proper, gentlemen, to overlook the 

 kind note addressed to me by a committee from the class 

 which immediately followed you, and which formed a 

 principal inducement for correcting for the press, the fol- 

 lowing lectures. 



"Jefferson Medical College, December 8th, 1847. 

 " PROFESSOR MITCHELL. 



" Sir : At a meeting of the class held last evening, the following resolu- 

 tion was unanimously adopted : 



"'Resolved That a committee be appointed to wait upon Professor 

 Mitchell, and request him to furnish for publication, his new and original 

 views of the nature and cause of malarious diseases.' 



"Allow us, in fulfilling the agreeable duty imposed by the class, to ex- 

 press the high gratification we have derived from listening to the lectures 

 referred to, and to add our personal solicitations that you will grant the 

 favor which it is the object of the resolution to ask. 

 "Yours respectfully, 



"W. P. THORNTON, of Mississippi. 

 R. S. HAYNES, of Virginia. 

 " JNO. HORACE SELTZER, of Pennsylvania. 

 "CHAS. F. STANSBURY, of the District of Columbia, Chairman. 

 "JoHN 0. McREYXOLDS, of Kentucky, Secretary." 



In reply to this kind request, I promised, when at lei- 

 sure, to cause the lectures to be published; and now com- 

 mence the work by offering to you, who heard them first, 

 in the form and substance in which they now appear, a 

 dedication of them. With the most sincere desire for the 

 promotion of your welfare, and with the greatest respect, 

 I have the honor to be, Gentlemen, 



Your friend and preceptor, 



J. K. MITCHELL. 



