6 PREFACE BY TRANSLATOR. 



been seen by the investigator. The commission sent to 

 Havana last summer for the investigation of yellow- 

 fever, was instructed to pursue this method, and was 

 accompanied by a photographer and supplied with all 

 the necessary appliances for carrying these instructions 

 into effect. 



The superficial reader may find much to criticise in 

 the work of Dr. Magnin, but I am convinced that 

 those who read it carefully cannot fail to be pleased 

 with the truly scientific spirit in which it is written ; 

 the fairness with which conflicting opinions are stated ; 

 the caution manifested as to the drawing of definite 

 conclusions where questions are still under discussion ; 

 and, above all, the extent of his literary researches and 

 the systematic way in which he has arranged the re- 

 sults. 



For the naturalist, for the physician, or for the non- 

 professional man of general culture, who desires to have 

 accessible in a condensed form the most important re- 

 sults achieved in this line of inquiry up to the present 

 day, this volume cannot fail to be of value ; while for 

 the student and the investigator in search of fuller 

 information, the summary given of the labors of nu- 

 merous individuals, together with the copious bibliog- 

 raphy, which I have brought up to date, will doubtless 

 be of service. Believing this to be true, it has been a 

 pleasure for me to devote a portion of my summer vaca- 

 tion to the translation of this little volume. 



G. M. S. 



Salem, Mass., August 1, 1880. 



