Practical anatomy of the rabbit

412 Pages·2008·28.94 MB·English

Marine Biological Laboratory
J'Jly 14, 1949
R.r.,v.^
Accession No.
, ,
^g Blakiston Co.
Given By
Philadelphia, Pa.
Pl3<.e

PRACTICAL ANATOMY
OF THE RABBIT

BENSLEY'S
PRACTICAL
A7s(AT0MT
OF THE RABBIT
An
Elementary
Laboratory Text^Boo\
in Mammalian Anatomy
Eighth Edition
Fully Revised and Edited by
HOKHE
CRAIGIE,
E. Ph.D.,
Professor of Comparative Anatomy and J^eurology
in the University ofToronto
THE BLAKISTOH COMPAHX
PHILADELPHIA
1948
Copyright, Canada, 1931, I937, 1944, ^94^
b)! the University of Toronto Press
Printed in Canada
^^y\CAi
Preface to the Fifth Edition
IN the preparation of the present edition of the Anatomy^
Rabbit, comparativelyHttlealteration hasbeen made in the body
of the text. Many minor corrections and emendations have, how-
ever, been recorded.
As explained in previous editions, the main purpose of the text
is to set forth in some kind of practical sequence a plan for the
orderly study of a typical mammal, supplemented by a brief
exposition of the relation of this kind of study to the content and
outlook of cognate biological sciences.
The methods adopted by anatomical instructors are subject to
wide variation, based no doubt upon personal preference and per-
haps to some extent upon habit and upon laboratory facilities
available. This is as it should be, though not capable of being
covered by any system of texts. After all, a student must go
through the process of acquiring a rather complex assortment of
detached pieces of information before a comprehensive view of the
ensemble of mammalian organization may be obtained. There is
thus plenty of room for selection in the order of study, provided
the requirement is met of avoiding the destruction of unidentified
parts. One of the older difficulties of anatomical teaching, perhaps
unintentionally fostered by all text-books, namely thorough, and
often unstimulating, preliminary study of the skeleton before dis-
section, is being overcome by judicious division of skeletal studies
into an introductory survey followed at suitable intervals with
special study during dissection. The method of using a region
under dissection as a basis for topical teaching of related physio-
logical and morphological associations has also much to recom-
mend
it.
Teaching responsibility is ever an interesting issue but never-
theless so often overlooked that it becomes an important question
as to whether the opportunities and obligations of anatomical
teaching are being met. For the non-professional student perhaps
the chief consideration is the avoidance of half-assimilated, un-
verified information. For the student looking forward to profes-
PREFACE
vi
sional courses, time as well as instructional sequence and useful
selection is equally important. It would be unfortunate if the
high reputation always enjoyed by the anatomical sciences, of
moving safely forward point by point were not used to the extent
possible to counterbalance the rather observable tendency towards
pedagogical confusion.
The writer appreciates the response of various instructors to
his desire for information as to necessary and advisable emenda-
tions of the text. He is under particular obligation to Dr. E. H.
Craigie, University ofToronto, for a critical revision of the account
of the central nervous system which should add materially to the
value of this section from both structural and functional points of
view.
B. A. Bensley
University of Toronto
October 1, 1931