vii In the conduct of this work, the Editor will have a constant eye to the pursuits of the Physician, the Naturalist, the Philosophical Geographer, and the Agriculturalist. It will be his uniform endeavour to bring together a mass of information, which may be useful not only to his countrymen, but to others, and honourable to himself. He makes no professions of candour and impartiality; because these professions are too generally made, only to be forgotten, disregarded, or contemned. Communications for this work (post paid, or by private conveyances) may be directed to the Editor, or to Messrs. John Conrad & Co., in Philadelphia; to Messrs. M. & J. Conrad & Co., in Baltimore; Rapin, Conrad, & Co., Washington City; Somervell & Conrad, Petersburg; or Bonsal, Conrad, & Co., Norfolk. Philadelphia, July 8th, 1804. ADVERTISEMENT. THE First Part of The Philadelphia Medical and Physical Journal is, at length, presented to the public. The Editor submits it to its fate, with a hope, that it will not be received with more indifference than some of his other publications, of which the reception has been too favourable and flattering. Accustomed, as he long has been, to an inspection of works, the plans of which are not essentially different from that of the Journal, the Editor is but too well persuaded of the many imperfections and deficiences of the present publication. Of his own papers and "fragmentary rubbish," he thinks himself qualified to form a pretty correct judgment. They are not, perhaps, of much consequence: they are thrown together without much regard to order, and nothing like neatness or elegance of style has been consulted, in a single instance: but they may be useful. They contain facts (many of which are new) which, in the hands of others, may serve as the bases of regular essays, if not of durable systems: they sometimes" start a game," which, by better huntsmen than himself, may be pursued with advantage. Of the papers, facts, &c., communicated to him by others, it becomes the Editor to speak with more hesitation. To say that he deems them valuable or important were to speak in highly favourable terms of the Journal: for the communications of others form a considerable part of the present volume. He ventures to flatter himself, however, that among the number of the original papers in the First Section, there are some which would not be deemed unworthy of a place in any similar production. The X Biographical article is wholly new; and a very large proportion of the Miscellaneous articles are now, for the first time, presented to the public. The Second Part of the Journal will be published in the beginning of May next, if not much earlier. This will complete a volume of at least four hundred pages, and may be considered as the first annual gift of the Editor. A more regularly digested Preface will accompany this second part; and this will serve as an Introduction to the whole volume. Philadelphia, November 13th, 1804. |