PREFACE. 



building requiring for its completion a long series of years. While the original 

 design, as well in its defects as in its merits, is due to himself, he is conscious 

 how little he has had to do in supplying the materials, and completing the 

 details of the building. For these he has trusted, and not in vain, to a body of 

 collaborateurs, among whom he is proud to reckon many of the first scien- 

 tific men both in this country and in Europe. How efficiently this work has 

 been done, it is not for the Editor to say, but he deems himself justified in 

 affirming that, for years to come, this Cyclopaedia will furnish a well-stocked 

 field for reference to the student of Anatomy and Physiology. 



It is remarkable how few of the members of this little phalanx of 

 contributors have failed to see the completion of the work ! Nevertheless, 

 we have to deplore some serious losses ; and the Editor trusts he may be 

 pardoned for offering a passing tribute to the memory of some of the more 

 distinguished among them. 



Foremost among these, although but recently removed from amongst us, was 

 the late Dr. MARSHALL HALL, who furnished articles on the (to him) favourite 

 subjects, HYBERNATION, IRRITABILITY. x Although a veteran in science, he had 

 finished his career before he had reached the ordinary limits of human life. 

 To large gifts of natural genius he added an indomitable industry and perse- 

 verance. His name must always occupy a prominent position in the annals 

 of Physiology, by reason of the active and highly successful part which he 

 took in advancing our knowledge of the Physiology of the Nervous System, 

 and in promoting its application to the investigation of Pathology and the 

 diagnosis and treatment of disease ; and the extremely ingenious speculations 

 and hypotheses which he, from time to time, suggested for the explanation 

 of various natural and morbid phenomena. The manner in which his almost 

 latest hours were employed in applying physiological knowledge to the 

 treatment of asphyxia shows how little it could have been said of him, 

 " Superfluous lags the veteran on the stage." 



Still more recently, another veteran, especially distinguished in anatomical 

 science, has fallen while actually in the ranks. Professor HARRISON, having 

 been during the previous day engaged in the duties of his chair, rapidly suc- 

 cumbed, in the course of a night, under an apoplectic seizure. For forty 

 years and upwards he maintained the highest reputation as a Teacher. At 



