EDITOR'S PREFACE. 



IN arranging for the editorship of The Medical Epitome 

 Series the publishers established a few simple conditions, 

 namely, that the Series as a whole should embrace the entire 

 realm of medicine ; that the individual volumes should au- 

 thoritatively cover their respective subjects in all essentials ; 

 and that the maximum amount of information, in letter- 

 press and engravings, should be given for a minimum price. 

 It was the belief of publishers and editor alike that brief 

 works of high character would render valuable service not 

 only to students, but also to practitioners who might wish 

 to refresh or supplement their knowledge to date. 



To the authors the editor extends his heartiest thanks for 

 their excellent work. They have fully justified his choice 

 in inviting them to undertake a kind of literary task which 

 is always difficult namely, the combination of brevity, clear- 

 ness, and comprehensiveness. The authors have shown a 

 consistent interest in the work and an earnest endeavor to 

 cooperate with the editor throughout the undertaking. Co- 

 operation of this kind ought to result in useful books, in 

 brief manuals as contradistinguished from mere compends. 

 The editor desires at this opportunity to express his appre- 



