xii AUTHOR'S PREFACE TO THE SECOND EDITION. 



sufficient abundance, in the original works. For I had in the preface 

 to the first edition expressly pointed out that those who had kept up 

 their knowledge, by reading the current medical literature, would 

 here find but little that was new to them. 



In this new edition I have contented myself with improving the 

 language, with expressing in more precise terms what was liable to 

 be misunderstood, and with expunging repetitions. There no doubt, 

 still even now, remains a great deal requiring correction ; but it 

 seemed to me that the whole ought as far as possible to preserve the 

 fresher impress of oral discourse, and of the unshackled range of 

 thought which there prevails, if it were for the future still to serve 

 as an active ferment to the labourers in the so very various fields 

 of medical science and practice. For the book will have fulfilled its 

 object, if it assists in the propagation, not of cellular pathology, but 

 in general only of independent thought and investigation. 



KUD. VIRCHOW. 



BERLIN, June 1th. 1859. 



