An Account of the Life, Lectures, and Writings of William Cullen ...

He regarded himself most fortunate, therefore, when he succeeded in persuading Dr Craigie to undertake the task, feeling assured that his rare learning in the general history of medicine, and his special acquaintance with many of the topics discussed in this volume, qualified him in a peculiar manner for carrying out with success the design of the previous authors. It is to be understood, then, that the latter part of the present volume, from page 401 onwards, is entirely the work of Dr Craigie. To this the present editor has contributed nothing beyond revising the sheets and making suggestions as to the materials to be employed, and the plan to be followed in completing the volume.

At the same time it is proper to state, that much had been done by Dr Thomson and his son towards the completion of the work, by the collection of materials, the arrangement of a plan of treatment, and even by the composition and printing in proof of considerable portions of the remaining part of the volume. But the present editor, in concert with Dr Craigie, became aware, in reviewing these materials, that to have carried out in its full extent the plan indicated by Dr Thomson's writings, would have swelled the work to such proportions as, they conceived, would be unsuitable in the altered circumstances in which it was now placed. They felt, too,

that as years had passed on, while many of those were gone who would have taken an interest in the history of events and the description of doctrines with which they had been contemporary, the changes of modern medical science itself necessarily diminished in a great degree the value of the discussion of bygone speculative opinions in the estimation even of the learned reader of the present day. They accordingly felt the urgent necessity of shortening as much as possible that part of the volume which related to the history of Italian medical doctrines following upon Brunonianism. Should any imperfection or incompleteness, therefore, appear to belong to this part of the volume, this is to be attributed to the desire which the editor felt, that as much space as possible should be reserved for the biographical history of Cullen himself. With respect to the history of Materia Medica, in connection with Cullen's latest and important work on that subject, although Dr Thomson had planned, and even printed, a considerable amount of materials in regard to it, the same difficulty was felt from the want of space; and Dr Craigie was under the necessity of rewriting nearly the whole.

With respect to the personal and private history of Cullen and his family, the editor and Dr Craigie have to regret the paucity of direct and accurate

information, arising from the removal by death, or absence of almost all those who could have supplied this history in greater detail. Even Dr Thomson had found the greatest difficulty in obtaining reliable information of this kind at a much earlier period. How much less prospect could there now be of satisfying the curiosity of the reader when the only grandson of Cullen is already approaching the age of four score years!

But however interesting these personal details might have been, it is as a history of Cullen's influence in promoting the advancement of medicine as a science and as a practical art that this memoir will possess its chief value. And the editor trusts that, notwithstanding the unavoidable defects which the work may possess, in consequence of the difficulties under which it has been completed, the part which is now given to the public may not only enhance the value of the first volume, by completing the biographical history of one of the greatest British physicians of the last century, but may form a useful and interesting contribution to the general history of medical science.

The editor takes this opportunity of expressing his grateful thanks to Dr Craigie for the zeal, diligence, and care with which he has endeavoured to verify all the facts and statements relating to Cullen's life and

other matters contained in the volume, and for the kindness with which he received any suggestions, which, in the character of editor, he has ventured to make as to the form of the work, and he hopes that the intelligent reader will agree with him in approving of the learning, candour, and judgment with which Dr Craigie has discussed subjects of no ordinary difficulty.

The editor has farther to state, that he has thought

proper to republish a short Biographical Notice of his father and brother. This notice is intended to be prefixed to the first volume, in consequence of the want of space in the present one; but it may also be obtained separately from the publishers.

GLASGOW COLLEGE,

1st August 1859.

TABLE OF CONTENTS OF VOLUME SECOND.

SYNOPSIS of Methodical Nosology.-Preparation of successive

editions, 4, 5, 688.-Objections to, examined, 7.

History of definitions of diseases as a part of medical science,—
Dr Cullen's views respecting, 13.-Objections to this por-
tion of his Nosology, examined.

History of Nomenclature of diseases, as a part of medical

science, 25.-Dr Cullen's views respecting, 29.

History of Classification of diseases as a part of medical

science, 33.-Dr Cullen's views respecting, 44.

His Nosological Classification, 47.-UNIVERSAL Diseases, 49.-

PYREXIE, 50.-Fevers, 51.-Hæmorrhages, 59.-Exanthe-

mata, 60.-NEUROSES, 61.-CACHEXIE, 62.-LOCAL Dis-

eases, 64, 410.-Diseases omitted from Nosology, 69.-

Synonymes, 71.-Want of reference to ancient writers, 72.

General estimate of Dr Cullen's Nosological labours, 74.

Memorial concerning the contagious diseases affecting Horned

Cattle, 77.