of human ignorance set forth so long ago by Roger Bacon: trust in inadequate authority, the force of custom, the opinion of the inexperienced crowd, and the hiding of one's own ignorance with the parading of a superficial wisdom. I dare not hope that I have always succeeded; many times I ought perhaps to have said, "I do not know," where I have set forth high-sounding theories; but I have done what seemed at the time possible.
Only one or two further prefatory sentences need be added. I have avoided, as far as possible, burdening the text with bibliographical references, and have endeavoured rather to cite articles which themselves contain full lists of literature; I have, for instance, often referred to contributions of my own, which have appeared elsewhere, which fulfil this requirement. In the Appendix will be found a list of my writings on Antenatal Pathology and cognate subjects, and the numbers within brackets which appear in the text refer to this list. The historical aspects of the subject have scarcely been touched; they are described in detail in the first volume of my work, The Diseases of the Fœtus. The illustrations are nearly all from specimens in my own collection; but for Figs. 9, 24, 28, 32-44, and 50 I am indebted to other workers. The investigation of most of the specimens was carried out in the Laboratory of the Royal College of Physicians, Edinburgh.
I cannot adequately express my indebtedness to my friend. Dr. John Thomson, who has not only read every proof with painstaking solicitude, but has also given me advice of great value and that unstintedly.
To my Publisher my best thanks go freely, and they are well deserved, for he has constantly endeavoured to meet my wishes with regard to every detail.
J. W. BALLANTYNE.
- 24 Melville Street, Edinburgh,
- January 4, 1902.
