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Show in To THE READER. TO THE READER. truth. It is not easy for a man altogether to divest himself of this disposition, nor is it to he wished that he should; for then his lively interest in the profession would abate; but it is a propensity that requires to be chastened by edn: cation, and by acquaintance with the errors which have In what I have now said, the persons to whom I allude are those who, indifferent to what is doing in the profession ably, if I shall be found to have laid the ground-work securel ly. I propose to form a System of Operative Surgery, founded on Anatomy; and between the title of the book and the execution I hope there is a due connexion: for, if it be only in the title and preface that I have made use of anatomy, I have done nothing more than what has been done by all writers of systems. As I have built my expectation of being useful on the at large, over-rate their own resources, and are not fully union of the studies of anatomy and surgery ; and as I eve- sensible how little any individual can do in improving the general practice of medicine or surgery. Men who assume ry day see reason to believe that the neglect of surgical ana~ been committed in theoretical reasoning. tomy is still a common defect of education; .V I have felt the merit of having learned all they profess from practice, myself as called upon at all hazards to prove the necessity and who would raise a distinction betwixt principle and ob. of this union. servation, are not aware of the extent of their admission. They confess themselves to have entered on the profession ing on the practice of the profession crowds of students who are ill provided with a knowledge of surgical anatomy ; and but poorly prepared; which is a great offence, since they there are many in practice who seem never to have acknow- must long have groped their way in the dark, doing mischief before they have learned to do good. They want the only secure foundation of experience, acquaintance with the ledged anatomy to be a science from which the principles structure of the body ; and, by entering on a high and re~ sponsible duty, with a thoughtless boldness, they render even their very testimony suspicious. Ever since I became aware of the true mean; of improvement, it has been my study to seek the conversation of the elder members of the profession. In this search I may confidently say, that I have found their conversation pregnant with information, and their practice safe as well as bold, in the proportion of their acquaintance with anatomy. The best surgeons are, for the most part, the best men in a more extended sense ; for humanity of disposition does not merely insure careful study before the duties of the profession are undertaken, but stirs on to active and virtuous exertions through a whole life. So far, therefore, from desiring to put myself in opposition to men of observation and experience, during the writing of these volumes, I have held myself as in their presence, and Iconfidently hope that they will receive this book favours It will not be denied, that there are enter- and the rules of practice are to be deduced. In short, I cannot help concluding, that though the higher departments of surgery are successfully cultivated by a few, there is not yet a proportionate diffusion of knowledge. Men of the first eminence have sought to obtain that rank by exerting the strength of their talents upon particular subjects; and who is there that can regret this? But still I think I am borne out in saying, that the general subject has been in consequence more remissly cultivated. It has been my endeavour, throughout this work, to re claim my reader from a loose method of considering the sub. ject; to carry him back to the study of anatomy; to make him have recourse to the principles, nay, the very elements of the science. I acknowledge that in the dissecting-room the student learns the elements only ; that to let loose upon the world a young surgeon, whose education has been confined to dissection, is like arming a man bereft of reason. He is ac« customed to use the knife; and desirous of doing it on all occasions; dexterous, perhaps, he may be, but he has not. studied the structure farther than it has reference to the dead |