system, if ignorant of the organic
laws and the physiological conditions upon which health and disease
depend.

For these reasons, the study of the structure of the human system, and
the laws of the different organs, are subjects of interest to
all,--the young and the old, the learned and the unlearned, the rich
and the poor. Every scholar, and particularly every young miss, after
acquiring a knowledge of the primary branches,--as spelling, reading,
writing, and arithmetic,--should learn the structure of the human
system, and the conditions upon which health and disease depend, as
this knowledge will be required in _practice_ in after life.

"It is somewhat unaccountable," says Dr. Dick, "and not a little
inconsistent, that while we direct the young to look abroad over the
surface of the earth, and survey its mountains, rivers, seas, and
continents, and guide their views to the regions of the firmament,
where they may contemplate the moons of Jupiter, the rings of Saturn,
and thousands of luminaries placed at immeasurable distances, ... that
we should never teach them _to look into themselves_; to consider
their own corporeal structures, the numerous parts of which they are
composed, the admirable functions they perform, the wisdom and
goodness displayed in their mechanism, and the lessons of practical
instruction which may be derived from such contemplations."

Again he says, "One great practical end which should always be kept in
view in the study of physiology, is the invigoration and improvement
of the corporeal powers and functions, the preservation of health, and
the prevention of disease."

The design of the following pages is, to diffuse in the community,
especially among the youth, a knowledge of Human Anatomy, Physiology,
and Hygiene. To make the work clear and practical, the following
method has been adopted:--

1st. The structure of the different organs of the system has been
described in a clear and concise manner. To render this description
more intelligible, one hundred and fifty engravings have been
introduced, to show the situation of the various organs. Hence the
work may be regarded as an elementary treatise on anatomy.

2d. The functions, or uses of the several parts have been briefly and
plainly detailed; making a primary treatise on human physiology.

3d. To make a knowledge of the structure and functions of the
different organs _practical_, the laws of the several parts, and the
conditio