CONVERSATION I. 



Anatomy Physiology Comparative Anatomy Life* 

 Distinctions between organic and inorganic bodies 

 between animal and vegetable beings. The primitive 

 tissues cellular, muscular and nervous properties of 

 the tissues their elementary composition. 



Dr. B. I hope, Emily, you have not forgotten the 

 arrangements that we made for devoting some attention 

 this season to the study of the animal economy. 



Emily. I recollect your kind promise, Dr. B., but 

 I confess I do not anticipate that pleasure from the study 

 of this subject which we derived from that of Chemistry 

 and Natural Philosophy. My notions respecting it are, 

 perhaps, vague and limited, but they are of such a dis- 

 agreeable and repulsive nature, that it really appears as 

 if 1 could never become interested in the study. 



Dr. B. You have identified the study of the animal 

 economy with that of anatomy, and associated with it, 

 no doubt, horrid ideas of dead bodies and mangled limbs, 

 and all your early impressions of " raw head and bloody 

 bones." You are old enough now to dismiss such nar- 

 row and childish notions, and regard anatomy as it really 

 is the science that unfolds to us a knowledge of the 

 noblest and most interesting works of the Creator. To 

 obtain a certain measure of this knowledge, it is not ne- 

 cessary for us to encounter the repulsive scenes of the 

 dissecting-room, or to notice those numberless disagree- 

 able details which are attended to by professional men. 

 Tl will be sufficient for our purpose, merely to examine 



