to the completion of the index, has been
exclusively the personal work of the authors, it is with full
confidence of the authenticity of the reports quoted that the material
is presented.

Complete references are given to those facts that are comparatively
unknown or unique, or that are worthy of particular interest or further
investigation. To prevent unnecessary loading of the book with
foot-notes, in those instances in which there are a number of cases of
the same nature, and a description has not been thought necessary, mere
citation being sufficient, references are but briefly given or omitted
altogether. For the same reason a bibliographic index has been added at
the end of the text. This contains the most important sources of
information used, and each journal or book therein has its own number,
which is used in its stead all through the book (thus, 476 signifies
The Lancet, London; 597, the New York Medical Journal; etc.). These
bibliographic numbers begin at 100.

Notwithstanding that every effort has been made to conveniently and
satisfactorily group the thousands of cases contained in the book (a
labor of no small proportions in itself), a complete general index is a
practical necessity for the full success of what is essentially a
reference-volume, and consequently one has been added, in which may be
found not only the subjects under consideration and numerous
cross-references, but also the names of the authors of the most
important reports. A table of contents follows this preface.

We assume the responsibility for innovations in orthography, certain
abbreviations, and the occasional substitution of figures for large
numerals, fractions, and decimals, made necessary by limited space, and
in some cases to more lucidly show tables and statistics. From the
variety of the reports, uniformity of nomenclature and numeration is
almost impossible.

As we contemplate constantly increasing our data, we shall be glad to
receive information of any unpublished anomalous or curious cases,
either of the past or in the future.

For many courtesies most generously extended in aiding our
research-work we wish, among others, to acknowledge our especial
gratitude and indebtedness to the officers and assistants of the
Surgeon-General's Library at Washington, D.C., the Library of the Royal
College of Surgeons of London, the Library of the British Museum, the
Library of the British Medical Association, the Bibliotheque de