The recent alterations which have been made by some of the licensing bodies in these kingdoms have rendered their examinations more demonstrative in their character than heretofore; and I trust it will be found that, in the arrangements which I have adopted, the student will receive such assistance in this respect as the improved mode of examination would appear to render necessary.

I have not overlooked the fact that there are many practitioners, particularly those in rural districts, who do not possess any opportunity of refreshing their memories upon anatomical points by actual dissection; and I am not without hope that to such the present volume may afford some useful hints as to the relations of those blood-vessels which, from time to time, may become the subjects of their operations.

The Illustrations have been executed from drawings made expressly for the work by Mr. B. Wills Richardson, Examiner in Anatomy and Physiology in the Royal College of Surgeons, and late Demonstrator of Anatomy in the Carmichael School of Medicine. The elevated position to which this gentleman has been raised in the College, and which he continues to fill with so much honor, sufficiently indicates his reputation as an Anatomist. The accurate and beautiful plates of Tiede-man and Cloquet, of Professor Quain and Maclise, have been rendered available for the illustrated portion of the work.*

I cheerfully acknowledge my obligations to the labors of the late Professor Harrison, Professor Alcock, and particularly to those of my former colleague in the Carmichael School of Medicine, the late Dr. Flood. In the year 1850 I brought out a new edition of this last gentleman's work upon the arteries, which has for some time since been out of print, but of which the principal part has been embodied in the present work.

* Additional illustrations have been inserted in the American edition.

The greater number of the illustrations have been executed by Mr. Oldham, of this city, and the remainder by Messrs. Butterworth and Heath, of London. It would be superfluous to say any thing here in praise of Mr. Oldham as an artist: his talents are so well known and valued as to render such commendation upon my part unnecessary. Messrs. Butterworth and Heath are also well known as artists of considerable merit and high standing in their profession.

John Hatch Power.

95 Harcourt Street, Dublin, October, 1860.