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slight acquaintance with that complicated and beautiful structure which we term the animal economy, will be sufficient to convince us that any rational method of investigating or treating disease must be founded upon an acquaintance with the general construction of the frame, the derangements and alterations to which it is liable, and a concise notion of the various systems or sets of organs of which the body is composed. Without this amount of knowledge it will be impossible correctly to interpret those signs of alteration of structure or function which constitute the symptoms of disease, and indicate its nature and seat.

If we would understand how to regulate the working of some complicated machine, we must not content ourselves with a mere cursory glance at its exterior, but closely inspect the different parts; make ourselves acquainted with their shape, situation, and arrangement; inquire into the principles upon which the whole is constructed, its mode of action, and the offices which each part was destined to perform. Proceeding thus, we shall arrive at a knowledge of the best means of preserving it from injury, repairing any accident that may happen to it, and maintaining it in a fit state for the efficient discharge of the duties it was intended to perform.

The animal economy consist of parts or organs, differing from each other in structure and function, yet all so intimately connected together, and so mutually dependent upon each other, that the cooperation of the whole is necessary to a state of perfect health; and if any one part suffer injury, the neighboring organs sympathize with it to a greater or less extent, and the working of the whole system is impaired. In order to arrive at a proper understanding of the functions of any one part of the body, we must study the whole; there is no other way of obtaining that insight into disease which will furnish us with a clear idea of the precise nature and seat of a malady, and the course of treatment most likely to be attended with success. The uninformed empiric who deals about his