PREFACE. THIS BOOK is written with the object of supplying the student with directions for the microscopical examination of the tissues. At the same time it is intended to serve as an Elementary Textbook of Histology, comprising all the essential facts of the science, but omitting unimportant details, the discussion of which is only calculated to confuse the learner. For a similar reason references to authorities have also been omitted. Most of the illustrations are taken from the second volume of Quain's Anatomy, ninth edition, where their authorship will be found acknowledged. Of the remainder, those which have been selected from other authors are duly indicated; the rest have either been drawn expressly for this work, or have been transferred to it from the author's 'Course of Practical Histology.' For conveniently accompanying the work of a class of medical students, the book is divided into forty-two lessons. Each of these may be supposed to occupy a class from one to three hours, according to the extent to which the preparations are made beforehand by the teacher or are prepared during the lesson by the students. A few of the preparations-e.g. some of those of the sense-organs-cannot well be made in a class, but it has been thought advisable not to injure the completeness of the work by omitting mention of them. Only those methods are recommended upon which long experience has proved that full dependence can be placed, but the directions given are for the most part capable of easy verbal modification in accordance with the ideas or experience of different teachers. For other processes and more minute details than could suitably be given here the student is referred to manuals which are devoted to practical work, such as the 'Practical Physiology' of Prof. Foster and Mr. Langley, the Practical Histology' of Prof. Rutherford, the 'Textbook of Practical Histology' of Prof. Stirling, and the author's Course of Practical Histology.' |