PREFACE Vll 



become the only available text-book in so far as the writer is aware in 

 which the development of each organ is described as an introduction to the 

 study of its microscopic structure in the adult. This method of presen- 

 tation is believed to be interesting, logical, and pedagogically practicable. 

 It proceeds from simple arrangements to those which are complex, and it 

 emphasizes fundamental features in distinction from those which -are 

 secondary. 



Secondly, a large number of citations and references to original papers, 

 both ancient and modern, have been inserted. Since the most obvious 

 facts of anatomy were observed first and details were learned subsequently, 

 an historical presentation serves to differentiate between the important and 

 the trivial, being comparable in this respect with an embryological presen- 

 tation. At the same time it is shown that anatomy has been a subject of 

 absorbing interest, and its possibilities are by no means exhausted, con- 

 trary to an opinion often expressed. Thus in 1821, when Charles Bell 

 made his great discoveries concerning nerves, he stated that scientists 

 had often remarked to him "In your department we can hope for nothing 

 new. After so many eminent men in a succession of ages have laboured on 

 your subject, no further discovery can be expected." Similarly, forty 

 years later, an American professor of anatomy described his science as 

 "a well reaped field"; shortly after this, the discovery of the islands in the 

 pancreas was announced, and they constituted an essentially new and 

 important organ. Thus while morphology continues to be discredited as 

 an effete and superficial science, dealing merely with shapes and relations, 

 it still reveals new structures in the human body, some of which are of 

 obvious significance, whereas others await explanations by the physiolo- 

 gists and chemists. In order that students may have an idea of the impor- 

 tant work now being done by anatomists, references to a selection of recent 

 papers have been introduced in this edition. American publications have 

 perhaps been given particular prominence, but this is because they are more 

 accessible to the students for whom this book is written. 



As a third modification, microscopic technique is described in a single 

 chapter, revised by Mr. L. G. Lowrey, now in charge of the instruction in 

 this subject at the Harvard Medical School. It furnishes directions for a 

 brief but practical course in microscopic technique, especially adapted to 

 the needs of medical students. 



In preparing this edition, the writer has received valuable assistance 

 from many sources. The account of the rectum was written by Dr. F. P. 

 Johnson, and Professor Huber has assisted in revising the description of 

 the kidney. The account of spermatogenesis is based on specimens made 

 by Dr. Scammon, and important illustrations have been supplied by Pro- 

 fessors Mark, Mallory, Minot, and Mall. Numerous crude figures in 

 the earlier edition have been replaced by excellent drawings made by Miss 



