Preface
Ever since the very beginning of my student days, when my contemporaries took to plying me with embarrassing demands for information upon all matters medical, I have been constantly impressed by the interest which the unscientific public take in the workings of their bodies and the material basis of their minds. It is this general display of interest among my friends that has emboldened me to add yet another book to the many already dealing with the subject. In using the word ‘unscientific’ I imply, of course, no reproach. I mean simply to denote those people who have specialized in some branch of knowledge other than those collectively known as Natural Science.
I usually find, when discussing physiology with such people, that they take more interest in general principles than in details, which they frequently find repellent, and that they frame their questions in an appallingly comprehensive manner.
My object throughout this little work has therefore been to present the fundamental principles of physiology in a brief, consecutive and readable form, for those who do not care to study the text-books. There is no lack of excellent books already, books illustrated by careful
