Page:A synopsis of the diseases of the eye, and their treatment - to which are prefixed, a short anatomical description and a sketch of the physiology of that organ (IA synopsisofdiseas1821trav).pdf/20

PREFACE physiology, for the purpose of bringing the entire subject before the reader in the compass of a volume. In these short pieces, Lhave aimed at a simple and perspicuous exposition of all that appears essential to a right understanding of the principal dis- eases of the organ. For the more subtile anatomical points,‘.or rather questions, which I have purposely avoided, I refer my reader to the Appendix.

Against an over-weening spirit of anato- mical discovery, the pathologist should be | jealously upon his guard, if he would ob- serve honestly and reason accurately on the phenomena of disease. Some ingenious disquisitions have occasionally been given to the Public on the morbid affections of textures, of which the existence is proble- matical. I would by no means speak with disrespect of the pursuit of minute ana- tomy, nor presume to question its utility when conducted after the manner of Har- vey-and Ruysch; but I must be allowed to remark that such points as are too subtile to admit of demonstration, are not to be cleared by the helps of analogy and con-- jecture, and indeed are never satisfactorily �