14 ANATOMY. 



the most interesting results of their researches, without 

 troubling ourselves particularly, with the means and in- 

 struments by which they have been obtained. 



Emily. Will you have the kindness to tell me what 

 the nature and objects of anatomy are, for I believe that 

 my ideas of this science are extremely imperfect. 



Dr. B. Every object in Nature is said to be either 

 organized or unorganized, and these two classes of bo- 

 dies are distinguished from each other by peculiar modes 

 of structure and properties. Every organized body is 

 composed of various parts or organs which are all de- 

 pendant on one another, and whose mutual action is 

 necessary to keep the whole body in existence. It is 

 the object of anatomy to unfold the intimate structure of 

 these organs, and to ascertain their form, situation and 

 connection with one another. Defined generally, there- 

 fore, it is called the science of organization. 



Emily. I think I have seen the expression, compara- 

 tive anatomy pray tell me why this epithet is used ? 



Dr. B. Anatomy may be considered as of two kinds 

 human and comparative. The first is the anatomy 

 oi man ; the latter, of the inferior animals. It is called 

 comparative because its results are constantly compared 

 with those of human anatomy, which is taken as the 

 general standard of comparison. Now, I presume, you 

 can readily understand its utility. 



Emily. Yes for since anatomy generally is the sci- 

 ence of organization, it must evidently be better under- 

 stood if we extend our views through the whole animal 

 kingdom, instead of confining them to the structure of 

 man alone. While defining terms, tell me what is 

 meant by Physiology, a term that is frequently used in 

 connexion with anatomy? 



Dr. B. Literally, it signifies the science of nature 

 in general ; but in the restricted sense in which it is now 

 received, it means the knowledge of the functions, or 

 uses of the various organs which compose an organized 

 body. A more proper term has been lately proposed, 



