il6 Medicine. 



Besides the discoveries and improvements ob^ 

 tained from the dissection of human bodies, Cowa 

 parative Anatomy or Zootomij has made great pro- 

 gress in the course of the eighteenth century^ 

 Many advantages have arisen, and may be ex- 

 pected hereafter to arise, from this source. In ad-* 

 dition to the benefits resulting from a more en- 

 larged acquaintance with the properties and func-^ 

 tions of animated nature, which often reflect light 

 on the human economy, and are founded in the 

 knowledge of comparative anatomy, the vctcrinan/ 

 art has lately become so extensive and respectable 

 as to require, on its own account, a more minute 

 examination of the structure of many animals. 



The most illustrious names among such as have 

 distinguished themselves in human anatomy, are 

 in general precisely those who have done the most 

 to extend the limits of comparative anatomy in 

 the eighteenth century. To prove this it will be 

 sufficient to recal the reader's attention to the 

 writings of Haller, Dr. and Mr. Hunter, the 

 first and second Monro, &;c. The Essay on Com- 

 parative Anatomy, by the first Monro, aifords proof 

 of the diligence he exercised on the subject. The 

 thesis of the second Monro, " De testibus in 

 variis animalihus^'' abounds with evidence of deep, 

 laborious and successful researches. And his work 

 on Fishes, mentioned in the preceding chapter, 

 has greatly contributed to enlarge our acquaint- 

 ance with the structure and functions of that large 

 class of animals. Every anatomist is informed of 

 the discoveries and improvements made by Dr. and 

 Mr. Hunter in their numerous dissections of ani- 

 mals, and of the principles and doctrines which 

 these dissections enabled them to establish. They 

 were followed by Mr. Hewson, Mr. Cruik- 

 shank, and many others of distinguished reputa- 

 tion, who were employed in the investigation af 



