Essentials of materia medica, therapeutics, and prescription writing

Front matter

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Preface To The Fifth Edition

In the preparation of this edition it has been the object of the author not only to follow closely the last edition of the U. S. Pharmacopoeia, but also to bring the book, as nearly as possible, thoroughly abreast of the times. Much that was obsolete has therefore been omitted, and many new drugs, especially among the groups of antipyretics and hypnotics, have been added, while the older subject-matter has been carefully revised and corrected.

In deference to the criticisms of English and Canadian medical journals, the dosage of each preparation has been expressed in the metrical weights and measures as well as in apothecaries' weight and wine measure. This change has been rendered necessary also by the adoption of the metrical system by the Medical Corps of the United States Army, many of whose officers have in the past used, and I hope in the future will continue to use, this little book for reference.

One word in regard to former criticisms, which on the whole have been most kind and considerate : The author is criticised for his classification of medicines. He thinks, with Lauder Brunton, that the time has come in scientific medicine when an attempt at classification, however imperfect and tentative, should be made, instead of giving up the entire subject as hopeless, and arranging the remedies in alphabetical order ; in which case, probably, as in a book before him, remedies as diverse in their effects and uses as croton oil, eubebs, cyanide of potassium, digitalis, elaterium, and ergot would follow each other, to the endless confusion of the student, who knows that the only way he can

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master a subject thoroughly is by systematizing his knowledge and his method of study, which is hardly possible if he learns in succession, and without any connection with each other, the effects and uses of oxide of zinc, oxygen, pancreatin, paraldehyde and pareira, to take a few examples of such classification at haphazard. While admitting that his classification is not free from faults, the author regards it as much preferable to the examples quoted.

By adopting a classification based on a therapeutical rather than a physiological method, the entire book is a therapeutical index ; and while the names of diseases do not appear in the table of contents, it is in reality, from its arrangement, an index to the remedies adapted to the treatment of various diseased conditions.

The author acknowledges his indebtedness to numerous standard text-books, as the National Dispensatory ; the U. S. Pharmacopoeia ; Wood's, Hare's, Lauder Brunton's, Foster's, and Wilson's Therapeutics ; Maisch's Organic Materia Medica ; Bloxam's Chemistry; Blythe on Poisons; as well as various medical annuals, as those of Sajous, Gould, the International Medical Annual ; and to writers in the various medical journals, whose papers, though too numerous to mention, form the great bulk of new matter in this edition.

The author takes pleasure in thanking Dr. Henry C. Haden for his valuable work in gathering references and abstracts ; and his acknowledgments are also due to Miss Caroline M. Irwin for the exhaustive and thorough index, which he is sure will add much to the value of this edition.

In conclusion, he renews the dedication to the memory of his friend, the late Dr. Theodore Horwitz, and while thanking the profession and critics for their kind reception of former editions, expresses the hope that they will find the present edition equally worthy of their confidence.

HENRY MORRIS.

813 S. 16th St., Philadelphia.

Preface

The object of this little book is, not to replace or attempt to replace with the student the larger text-books on Materia Medica, but simply to give him, in condensed form, the principles of this branch of medicine, without a knowledge of which he can neither pass his final examinations, nor practice his profession intelligently.

The author hopes that, if properly used, this book will be of service to the student and young practitioner, but he is sure, from his experience as a teacher, that neither this nor any other " compend " will suffice to form the groundwork of what is really the study of a lifetime — the Science of Medicine.

In regard to the classification of drugs, he would say that this work was commenced before the excellent arrangement contained in the last edition of Prof. Wood's Therapeutics was published, and not being satisfied with any of the groupings which he had seen, he was induced to adopt a classification based on therapeutic rather than physiological grounds, which, however, he is pleased to think agrees very nearly with that of the latest edition of Wood. In conclusion he must acknowledge his indebtedness not only to the standard text-books, such as the admirable works of Wood, Bartholow, Ringer, Lauder Brunton and many others, but also to many writers in the medical journals, both of this and other countries, to whom want

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of space has prevented him from giving due credit in the appropriate place. He must also acknowledge the kindness of his friend, Dr. Henry D. Moore, to whom he is indebted for the preparation of the index.

Believing that the critic is the best friend of the medical author, he will thankfully receive any criticisms or hints from either public

or private sources.

HENRY MORRIS.

SIS South 16th St., Philadelphia. .