vi PREFACE TO FIRST EDITION 



to build a really sound knowledge. Such practical courses 

 are apt in the student's mind to be entirely dissociated from 

 the systematic study of physiology. Microscopic prepara- 

 tions are made too often with more consideration of the 

 methods employed, than of the structures to be studied, 

 and experiments are performed as feats of manipulative 

 skill, rather than in relationship to what they teach. 



I have attempted to bring the practical and systematic 

 study into closer relationship, by constant references to the 

 practical work which the student must undertake. Since 

 no amount of reading will give the real knowledge of the 

 histological methods which are employed, and the structures 

 revealed by these methods, or of the chemical tests which 

 are daily more and more largely used by physicians, or of 

 the experimental procedure by which physiology has been 

 built up, lengthy descriptions of these methods seem un- 

 called for ; and hence those details which the student must 

 master practically are here merely touched upon, and he 

 is referred to his practical exercises. 



Every student in a recognised school now receives such 

 a practical training, and the knowledge thus acquired may 

 be refreshed by reference to those books which are used 

 as guides during the prosecution of the practical work 

 such books as Schafer's " Experimental Physiology," 

 Schafer's "Essentials of Histology," Halliburton's "Essen- 

 tials of Chemical Physiology," and "The Practical Physi- 

 ology" of Beddard, Edkin, Hill, M'Leod, and Pembrey. 

 Descriptions of apparatus have been purposely excluded. 

 The student must make himself practically familiar with 

 such pieces of apparatus as he has to use himself, or to 

 see used in demonstrations. With other apparatus he is not 

 concerned. It is as absurd that the student of physiology 

 should burden his memory with the construction of machines 

 he will never see in use, as that the surgeon should attempt 



