Book - The Elements of Embryology - Volume 1

Foster, M. (Michael), Sir, 1836-1907; Balfour, Francis M. (Francis Maitland), 1851-1882; Sedgwick, Adam, 1854-1913; Heape, Walter, 1855-1929

Second Edition Revised. London : MACMILLAN AND CO. 1883

Preface to the Second Edition

WHEN this little work first appeared, it was put forward as a Part I, to be followed by other Parts. That plan was however soon abandoned. Nevertheless the volume seemed to have a place of its own ; and my dear lost friend undertook to prepare a second edition, intending to add some account of the development of the Mammal with a view of making the work an elementary introduction to vertebrate embryology more particularly suited for medical students. He was occupied with the task at the time of his sad death; and indeed a melancholy interest is attached to some of the sheets, by the fact that he had taken them to Switzerland with him, on that fatal journey.

All the first part up to p. 160 he had passed for press ; and he had further revised up to about p. 202. The whole of the rest of the volume has been undertaken by Mr Adam Sedgwick and Mr Walter Heape. They have attempted to carry out as far as possible what we believe to have been Balfour's views, and trust that the public will judge leniently of their efforts to perform a difficult task. I have myself been able to do no more than offer general advice from time to time; and though it has not been thought advisable to change the title, the merits as well as the responsibilities of the latter part of the work must rest with them.

M. FOSTER.

TRINITY COLLEGE, CAMBRIDGE, March, 1883.

Online Editor Comments
As with all historic texts, terminology and developmental descriptions may differ from our current understanding. There may also be errors in transcription or interpretation from the original text. Currently only the text has been made available online, figures will be added at a later date. My thanks to teh Internet Archive for making the original scanned book available.