Note-book of materia medica, pharmacology and therapeutics

Front matter

Med t

NOTE-BOOK

OF

Preface To The First Edition

O

In order to relieve the Students attending my lectures as much as possible from the irksomeness of note-taking, I prepared, two years ago, a pamphlet containing all the formulae, the weights and measures, &c., of the British Pharmacopoeia, printed it, and offered it for their acceptance. I found that this Note-Book of Formulae , as it was called, was of some use, and I hoped to have made it still more so by enlarging it a little before presenting a second edition. Just as I was about to do so, however, I received a communication from the Publishers of this book, asking me to place in their hands what I thought would be useful to the Student of Matei'ia Medica.

In responding to their request, I have endeavoured to prepare a work which will relieve the Student from much of the mechanical labour of note-taking, and which, whilst it supplies a good deal of useful information, will suggest the necessity of a more complete investigation of the subject.

In preparing the book for press, I have considerably exceeded the limits of my first intention ; so difficult is it to keep back what we desire that others should participate in. But still it is only a Note-Book , and its aim is to be suggestive rather than dogmatic.

All quotations from the Pharmacopoeia are made in italics. The names of officinal drugs are printed in bolder type, and may thus be distinguished from others which are not officinal. The officinal drugs, preparations, and compounds, are distinguished in the index by an asterisk.

Vlll

Preface

I have to express my thanks to many kind friends who have advised me upon various points during the progress of the work — especially to Professor Balfour, whose Class-Book of Botany I have followed in the arrangement of the Natural Orders ; to Dr. Sellar, Examiner in Medicine in the University of Edinburgh ; to my colleague, Dr. Stevenson Macadam, Lecturer on Chemistry ; and to Mr. J. B. Stephenson, Pharmaceutical Chemist.

32 Queen Street, Edinburgh, May, 1866.

Preface To The Second Edition

In preparing a new Edition of the “ Note-Book,” the Editor, in accordance with the wishes of the relatives of Dr. Scoresby- Jackson, has strictly adhei'ed to the original plan of the work. All the new preparations introduced into the British Pharmacopoeia of 1867 are included in the present Edition.

The whole work has been subjected to a rigid revisal ; many of the articles, such as Bromide of Potassium, Sulphurous Acid, the Subnitrate of Bismuth, Arsenious Acid, Conium, Digitalis, <fec., have been almost entirely rewritten ; whilst several additions have been made, such as the Solution of Bismuth, the Hydrate of Chloral, Carbolic Acid, &c. As the book is principally intended for Students accustomed to the new notation only, the formulae employed in explanation of chemical reactions have been converted into this system throughout. To facilitate reference to older works, the constitution in symbols of substances possessed of definite chemical composition has been generally given, along with their names, in the old as well as the new notation. Now that the new system is used exclusively by Teachers of Chemistry, it seemed on the whole unnecessary to adopt a separate type for each notation, as is done in the British Pharmacopoeia.

Every precaution has been taken to render the work as useful, accurate, and complete a Student’s Text-Book as possible, and worthy of a continuance of that popularity it has already attained.

41 Northumberland Street, Edinburgh, Dec., 1870.

Preface To The Third Edition

The present Edition of the “ Note-Book ” is mainly a reprint of the last, with the addition of the new officinal preparations contained in the Supplement to the British Pharmacopoeia. The whole work has, however, been again carefully gone over, and such alterations and additions made as the progress of Materia Medica and Therapeutics seemed to require. The Editor has to acknowledge his obligations to Dr. Henry, University Assistant to Sir Robert Cliristison, for valuable aid in revising the work.

The rapid sale of two large Editions, whilst it proves that the work supplies a real want as a Student’s Text-Book, at the same time gives good reason to anticipate similar success for the present issue.

29 Charlotte Square, Edinburgh, December, 1874.

Preface To The Fourth Edition

In preparing the Fourth Edition of the “ Note-Book ” it has been found necessary to alter the original text in many places, in consequence of the progress which the Science of Therapeutics has made since the date of the last edition. The Editor has considered it advisable to retain the botanical descriptions of such plants only as are indigenous. This and other changes have been made solely with a view of not over-burdening the Student, or abstracting his attention from the study of the actions and uses of the drugs.

It is hoped, that by these efforts, the new edition will serve to maintain, if not to increase the popularity which the work has hitherto enjoyed as a Text-Book for Students of Materia Medica.

13 Alva Street, Edinburgh, October, 1880.

Part I.— Introductory

Materia Medica : Definition, Scope of the subject — Sources and Natural Condition of Medicines — Selection and collection of Medicines —Collection of Vegetable Medicines — Natural condition of Plants, and the circumstances by which they are affected — The active Principles of Medicines derived from the vegetable kingdom — Pharmaceutical operations— Weights and Measures — Symbols — Officinal Formulae : Aquae, Cataplasmata, Confectiones, Decocta, Emplastra, Enemata, Essentia, Extracta, Glycerina, Infusa, Linimenta, Liquores, Lotiones, Mellita, Misturse, Mucilagines, Pilulae, Pulveres, Spiritus, Succi, Suppositoria, Syrupi, Tincturse, Trochisci, Unguenta, Vapores, Vina, — Magistral Formula or Prescriptions — Properties, forces, actions, and effects of Medicines — Modus operandi and classification of Medicines — Locality of the action of Medicines — Channels by which Medicines are introduced into the system — Circumstances which modify the actions of Medicines — The Prescription, ...... xvii-cxix