A Treatise on Anatomy, Physiology, and Hygiene (Revised Edition)

by Calvin Cutter

GENERAL REMARKS.

1. Anatomy is the science which treats of the structure and relations of the different parts of animals and plants.

2. It is divided into Vegetable and Animal anatomy. The latter of these divisions is subdivided into Human anatomy, which considers, exclusively, human beings; and Comparative anatomy, which treats of the mechanism of the lower orders of animals.

3. Physiology treats of the functions, or uses of the organs of animals and plants. Another definition is, “the science of life.”

4. This is also divided into Vegetable and Animal physiology, as it treats of the vegetable or animal kingdom; and into Human and Comparative physiology, as it describes the vital functions of man or the inferior animals.

5. Hygiene is the art or science of maintaining health, or a knowledge of those laws by which health may be preserved.

6. The kingdom of nature is divided into organic and inorganic bodies. Organic bodies possess organs, on whose 14 action depend their growth and perfection. This division includes animals and plants. Inorganic bodies are devoid of organs, or instruments of life. In this division are classed the earths, metals, and other minerals.

1. What is anatomy? 2. How is it divided? How is the latter division subdivided? 3. What is physiology? Give another definition. 4. How is physiology divided? Give a subdivision. 5. What is hygiene? 6. Define organic bodies.

7. In general, organic matter differs so materially from inorganic, that the one can readily be distinguished from the other. In the organic world, every individual of necessity springs from some parent, or immediate producing agent; for while inorganic substances are formed by chemical laws alone, we see no case of an animal or plant coming into existence by accident or chance, or chemical operations.

8. Animals and plants are supported by means of nourishment, and die without it. They also increase in size by the addition of new particles of matter to all parts of their substances; while rocks and minerals grow only by additions to their surfaces.