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upon the different questions involved, concerning which I can only offer an individual opinion, unsupported by the advantage of very lengthened experience.

Your kindly expressed approval of my efforts, and your sanction to permit them to follow the intention expressed in the title page, is most highly esteemed by me. Allow me then to offer you the following "Remarks" in dedication, as an humble mark of respect and as a trifling acknowledgment of gratitude for your many kindnesses to me.

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PREFACE.

The object of these remarks is expressed in the title page. Being addressed to Young Medical Officers, on first entering the service, ideas that to the Army Surgeon of standing would appear trite, may to them bear an interest as a practical commentary on the "Instructions," which, by alluding to the duties of Soldiers, in a somewhat more extended sense, viewing the essential attributes and inquiring into the causes that ought to constitute unfitness, may assist in the comprehension of the very numerous questions thence arising. In this respect, chiefly, can interest pertain; as an investigation of the pathological relations of disease or its treatment, in statistical, authorative, or other connexions, is totally out of the question, beyond what is merely necessary for impressing upon the mind the objections to such diseases as they occur in Soldiers.

A further discussion of the extensive associations of disease is likewise inadmissible, as these are usually familiar to an educated Young Surgeon, and in the elementary degree here introduced, would only be interesting as details previously unassociated with Soldiers.

The usefulness of a publication is generally estimated by its object, and in proportion to the attainment of that object. The author is aware that in both respects these pages may be open to criticism, inasmuch as it is questionable how far the examination of Recruits can be practically considered in writing, and in what degree the intention has been fulfilled in proportion to the possibility of accomplishing it. In both

respects these objections are candidly admitted; yet, in the first place, it is to be borne in mind, that this work is not intended for the use of those who have practical experience, but as a help to the Young Medical Officer, when first placed in the position of an examiner; and, in the next place, indulgence may reasonably be claimed on account of circumstances extraneous to the author's controul. Stationed in country quarters, reference to many books by English, French, and other Military Surgeons, acknowledged authorities on various features remarked upon in the following pages, has not been attainable. The influence of this want has been seriously experienced, and in the composition of suggestive instructions, on such a variety of topics, can hardly be exaggerated. Nevertheless, the object of this work will be amply attained if the accomplishment of a most important duty is in any way facilitated.

The mode of arrangement which has been adopted is that pursued by the late Mr. Marshall, Deputy Inspector General of Army Hospitals, in his valuable book on the "Enlistment, Discharging, and Pensioning of Soldiers," from which the author has not hesitated to borrow some observations deserving of recollection, as the results of his great experience and sagacity. He, however, always acknowledged the plagiarism. Mr. Marshall's views, though very briefly expressed, are so accurate, that occasionally it has been impossible to avoid similarity of diction, and indeed in these instances had there been much difference, the author would have feared to have fallen into error.

The letter of the "Instructions" has been rarely exceeded, and, in the few instances where such is the case, a justification will, it is hoped, be apparent; but the author cannot believe that the most guarded inference from the intention and authorised discretionary power has been transgressed.

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