COMPARATIVE ANATOMY. 
Mediterranean such Companies are called 
Conserves. 
COMPARATIVE anatomy, is the sci- 
ence which examines the structure of the 
body in animals. It includes, in its most 
extensive sense, a view of the corporeal or- 
ganization of all classes of the animal king- 
dom. 
This science, which is very aptly deno- 
minated comparative anatomy, alFords the 
most essential aid in elucidating the struc- 
ture of tlie human body, and in explaining 
the doctrines of physiology. 
The want of any organ in certain classes 
of animals, or its existence under different 
modifications of form, structure, &c. can- 
not fail to suggest most interesting conclu- 
sions concerning the office of the same pai t 
in the human subject. Thus our physiolo- 
gical reasonings, which must necessarily be 
partial and incomplete, when deduced from 
the structure of a single animal or class, 
are extended and corrected by this general 
comparative survey, and may, therefore, 
be relied on witli the greater confidence. 
We are indebted to such investigations for 
the discovery of the circulation and of the 
lymphatic system; for the elucidation of 
the functions of digestion and generation : 
indeed, there is no branch of anatomy or 
physiology which has not received most ma- 
terial benefit from the same source. Hence 
Haller has very justly observed, that “ phy- 
siology has been more illustrated by com- 
parative anatomy, than by the dissection 
of the human body.” 
The study of comparative anatomy is 
moreover of the greatest importance in its 
connection with veterinary science, and 
with that highly interesting pursuit, natural 
history. It would be an affront to our 
readers to enlarge upon its utility in the 
former point of view; but we may be allowed 
to observe on the latter subject, that ana- 
tomical structure forms the only sure basis 
of a natural classification of the animal 
kingdom; and that any arrangement not 
founded on this ground-w'ork will lead us 
into the most gross and palpable errors. 
Lastly, this study opens to the mind a 
great source of interest and satisfaction, in 
exhibiting such numerous and undeniable 
proofs of the exertion of contrivance and 
design in the animal structure : in display- 
ing those modifications of particular parts 
and organs, by which they are adapted to 
the peculiar circumstances of the animal, 
and become subservient to its wants, its 
necessities, or its enjoyments. 
The importance of the subject from the 
above-mentioned circumstances is now so 
fully recognised, that it begins witi) justice 
to be considered as an essential part of a 
regular medical education. Public lectures 
have been delivered on it for some years in 
Germany and France ; and lately the ex- 
ample has been followed in this metro- 
polis. 
Hitherto there has been raffier a defici- 
ency of good works on this science,, and 
particularly of elementary books. Blasius 
has given a collection of the writings of 
several authors on the anatomy of particu- 
lar animals, in one volume 4to., entitled 
“ Anatomia aniraalium figuris variis illus- 
trata,” Amstel. 1681 ; which may still be 
consulted with advantage, particularly on 
account of the plates. Cuvier’s “ Le(;ons 
d’Anatomie comparee,” in five large 8vo. 
volumes, form a very valuable and useful 
repository of tacts in comparative anatomy ; 
but the subject is treated at such length, 
and with so many uninteresting details, that 
the book is by no means adapted for the 
use of students. The only compendious 
and scientific view of the subject which we 
can recommend to beginners is the short 
system published by Blunienbach of Got- 
tingen, and translated ffiom the German by 
Mr. Law'rence, who has accompanied it 
with numerous additional notes. 
Tlie necessity of confining this article 
within a given number of pages renders it 
impossible for us to give a general view of 
the subject : we shall, therefore, select such 
parts as are either particularly interesting 
in themselves, or such as become important 
from eiuc^dating the structure or functions 
of thn hnman body. 
It is necessary for us to make a few re- 
marks on the classification of the animal 
kingdom ; as the terms employed in the 
following article differ occasionally from 
those of the Linnaean system, which has 
been hitherto chiefly used in this country ; 
and, independently of this circumstance, 
such of our readers as have not particu- 
larly attended to the study of natural his- 
tory, may derive assistance and informa- 
tion from a short sketch and explanation of 
the arrangement of animals according to 
their anatomical structure, with an enume- 
ration of the chief genera in each order. 
That the Linnman system is exposed to 
numerous and well-grounded objections, 
and that in many instances it disregards 
anatomical structure, wliich should form 
he basis of a natural classificatioD, will b« 
