IX 



the inducements which led me to lay the work before 

 the world. 



The second consideration which induced me to resolve 

 upon publishing my atomical investigations, was one 

 which more particularly concerns the medical students in 

 the University of Glasgow. It was a wish on my part to 

 shorten the discussions connected with the atomic theory, 

 and with the composition of the salts, which I have 

 hitherto thought it incumbent on me to introduce into my 

 course of lectures. Henceforth, I shall have it in my 

 power to refer you to the present publication for the 

 proofs of the different fundamental points of importance. 

 This will leave me much more time for illustration, and 

 will enable me to make my future courses of lectures 

 more entertaining and varied, without any diminution of 

 the quantity of information which I have hitherto con- 

 sidered it as a point of duty to communicate. I shall 

 be able too, hereafter, to enter more into detail respecting 

 those parts of chemistry which are more intimately con- 

 nected with the theory of medicine ; for I need not 

 observe to those gentlemen who have paid attention to the 

 subject, that by far the most likely means of improving 

 physiology, is a cautious application of chemistry to the 

 investigation of the different constituents of the human 

 body. An accurate knowledge of the chemical composition 

 of every organ, and of the alterations produced on that 

 organ by disease, would probably throw new and unex- 



