A Practical Physiology

Preface.

The author has aimed to prepare a text-book on human physiology for use inhigher schools. The design of the book is to furnish a practical manual ofthe more important facts and principles of physiology and hygiene, whichwill be adapted to the needs of students in high schools, normal schools,and academies.

Teachers know, and students soon learn to recognize the fact, that it isimpossible to obtain a clear understanding of the functions of the variousparts of the body without first mastering a few elementary facts abouttheir structure. The course adopted, therefore, in this book, is to devotea certain amount of space to the anatomy of the several organs beforedescribing their functions.

A mere knowledge of the facts which can be gained in secondary schools,concerning the anatomy and physiology of the human body, is of little realvalue or interest in itself. Such facts are important and of practicalworth to young students only so far as to enable them to understand therelation of these facts to the great laws of health and to apply them todaily living. Hence, it has been the earnest effort of the author in thisbook, as in his other physiologies for schools, to lay special emphasisupon such points as bear upon personal health.

Physiology cannot be learned as it should be by mere book study. Theresult will be meagre in comparison with the capabilities of the subject.The study of the text should always be supplemented by a series ofpractical experiments. Actual observations and actual experiments are asnecessary to illuminate the text and to illustrate important principles inphysiology as they are in botany, chemistry, or physics. Hence, assupplementary to the text proper, and throughout the several chapters, aseries of carefully arranged and practical experiments has been added. Forthe most part, they are simple and can be performed with inexpensive andeasily obtained apparatus. They are so arranged that some may be omittedand others added as circumstances may allow.

If it becomes necessary to shorten the course in physiology, the varioussections printed in smaller type may be omitted or used for home study.

The laws of most of the states now require in our public schools the studyof the effects of alcoholic drinks, tobacco, and other narcotics upon thebodily life. This book will be found to comply fully with all such laws.

The author has aimed to embody in simple and concise language the latestand most trustworthy information which can be obtained from the standardauthorities on modern physiology, in regard to the several topics.

In the preparation of this text-book the author has had the editorial helpof his esteemed friend, Dr. J. E. Sanborn, of Melrose, Mass., and is alsoindebted to the courtesy of Thomas E. Major, of Boston, for assistance inrevising the proofs.

Albert F. Blaisdell.

Boston, August, 1897.