TO JOHN ABERCROMBIE, M. D. FELLOW OF THE ROYAL College oF PHYSICIANS, AND PRESIDENT OF THE MEDICO-CHIRURGICAL SOCIETY, OF EDINBURGH; FIRST PHYSICIAN TO HIS MAJESTY FOR SCOTLAND THIS VOLUME IS INSCRIBED, IN TESTIMONY OF RESPECT FOR HIS PROFESSIONAL AND SCIENTIFIC CHARACTER, AND OF GRATITUDE FOR PERSONAL KINDNESS, BY THE AUTHOR. PREFACE. SOME apology may be thought necessary for the publication of a new elementary book upon Physiology, which contains no statements of new facts, within so short a time after the appearance of works of such value, on that subject, as the System of Dr BOSTOCK, the Outlines of Mr Mayo, and the Translations of BLUMENBACH'S Physiology, by Dr ELLIOTSON, and of MAGENDIE'S Physiology, by Dr MILLIGAN. My apology is, that it appears to be important for a teacher of any branch of science to follow the arrangement which seems to his own mind the most satisfactory; and important likewise for the students attending any course of scientific lectures, to have in their hands a text-book arranged on the same plan, |