PKEFATORY NOTE TO THE ENGLISH 

 TKANSLATION 



The first comprehensive treatment of general ]jh}-.sioki,g-y was 

 contained in Claude Bernard's T\o\<f classic. Lemons s^ir ks plienomenes 

 de la vie commims a%hx a/iiimoAix et aux vegitaux, which was pub- 

 lished in 1878-79. Since that time the only adequate work upon 

 the subject has been Professor Verworn's Allgeineine Phi/siologic 

 The first edition of this book appeared in 1894. This was followed 

 in 1897 by a second and revised edition. The work has been 

 welcomed by European and American biologists, who have 

 felt the need of a review and summary of the rapidly accumulating 

 details of cell-physiology, and its ability and suggestiveness have 

 been widely recognised. Many of the special views of the author 

 have encountered opposition — a fact that perhaps is indicative of 

 their value — yet, however much we may agree or disagree with him 

 upon special points, we all must acknowledge his breadth and be 

 grateful to him for presenting such a wealth of facts, and for 

 pointing out so clearly the possibilities of research. With Pro- 

 fessor Verworn's consent I have undertaken the task of trans- 

 lating and editing the book ; first, with the hope that in its 

 English form it may enable English-speaking biologists and 

 general scientific readers to realize more fully than before the wide 

 scope of the science of Physiology ; and, secondly, because the book 

 presents in a form convenient for the use of students suggestive and 

 stimulating discussions of vital physiological questions. 



FREDERIC S. LEE. 



Columbia University, New York, 

 Mairh 1, 1898. 



