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Show 2 rumor: 11mm CE. of doing good. That a design so obviously useful has not already been executed, is surprising-and indeed so much is a work of the kind required, that this alone would serve in nent in the pursuit and practice of it. These opportunities I have diligently improved, courting the intimacy of those surgeons from whom I could derive professional information, uncontaminated by prejudice or self-interestedness, but acrcompanied with the liberality and candour which makes sci-renee more pleasing. These are opportunities of information and improvement of which I may be allowed to boast. From sources like these, I have endeavoured to draw the simplest and clearest. view of the approved practice; and as concisely as possible vi ‘ a great measure as an apology for the present attempt, how- ever defective. In the study of anatomy and, surgery, strong motives are required to investigation and experiment. Our enquiries e.~.‘.._~e-«.z.‘j~=."-‘"3""? - " ‘ must still be rendered interesting, and our industry excited, by ingenious theory and speculative views. Without these, our efforts will be languid, and our pursuit of science fun tile and without energy. But the author of this work must disclaim all these more pleasing methods of investigating his subjects, and keep steadily in his mind the object he has already professed. Having to deliver a simple and concise system of rules for the actual practice of surgery, he must keep close to the text, and can never venture to indulge in disquisition but on points the most essential. His wish is, that he may be said to have taken a simple and correct, not an ingenious View of the practice of surgery. This work I profess to be original. In writing it, I have not collected my library around me, and consulted books chiefly. But though original in one sense, the student may discover in it no novelties,'nor the intelligent surgeon, who viii I have described the manner of operating. One thing further I think it right once for all to state, That I have described no operation which I have not pen formed; from bleeding in the arm to lithotomy with the knife alone; from tying the umbilical cord to the operation of Cmsarean section. This I say not from any impulse of va‘ nity, but from a wish to explain to my reader what may perhaps the better entitle me to speak as I have done. Before we have taken the knife in our hand, and are preparing to perform an operation, we do not precisely know which is the important point-our ideas are vague-the circumstances which ought most to engage the surgeon's attention, are not distinctly before us-the difficulties which disturb him the most, are not fully seen and appreciated. It is by re- holds communication with his fellows of the profession, find any rules or observations with which he is not familiar. But I have enjoyed benefits of which I may fairly boast, as promising something useful in such a work. I have been mind after it is over, and thus considering the subject entire= educated to anatomy with a strictness and severity for which ly in a practical light, that I have been able to compress I am now grateful. this systematical View of surgery into these narrow bounds. I proceed upon the supposition that general doctrines, and a knowledge of anatomy, have been impressed upon the mind while a pupil ; but that when great occasions call for sudden exertion, the young surgeon may with infinite bene-l United in study with a brother whom the general sense of the profession ranks very high, long his assistant, and then his partner-I was still dissatisfied, until I had a wider knowledge of the profession ; and finding myself suddenly deprived of the opportunities I had enjoyed as a surgeon of the hospital of Edinburgh, I removed to a larger field, which has been attended with this consolation, that I have been enabled to cultivate a wider acquaintance with, the profession, and to enjoy the conversation of men emi~ flecting on the doubts which arise during operations, and by taking advantage of the recollections which crowd into the iit turn to a detail of what is necessary to be done, unembarrassed by disguisition. I have endeavoured to pre« Sent to my reader the train of reasoning which passes through the mind of the operator, and to give such ideas of the vol. r. .‘2 |
