PREFACE. 



To collect a series of Essays on all the various subjects of Anatomy and Phy- 

 siology, by the co-operation of several Authors, who, as far as possible, should 

 be selected in consequence of their special attention to, or interest in, the 

 subject-matter of the articles which each would undertake to furnish, was 

 the object of the Editor in projecting the "Cyclopaedia of Anatomy and 

 Physiology." 



The successful inauguration of a similar work on Practical Medicine, 

 which had advanced some way prior to the commencement of this Cyclopedia, 

 afforded great encouragement to the Publishers and to the Editor to prosecute 

 their design. 



The first part was published in 1835, twenty-four years ago. It was 

 then calculated that twenty parts would complete the book, arid that not many 

 years would have been sufficient for that purpose, 



A glance at the Table of classified Contents will show the multipli- 

 city of topics on which it was proposed to treat: Anatomy, both as 

 it regards man and all the tribes of inferior creatures, Anatomy de- 

 scriptive, Anatomy physiological or histological, Comparative Anatomy, 

 Morbid Anatomy, general and special. To these were to be added: 

 Physiology (human and comparative) ; some brief notice of Vegetable Physi- 

 ology ; the Anatomy and Physiology of the different classes of Animals, in- 

 volving, in many instances, much reference to their Zoology ; and lastly Animal 

 Chemistry, including the physiology of the fluids and secretions. 

 VOL. i. a 



