mental
and the eminent success that lias crowned
therapeutics,
the efforts of recent workers in this direction. will call to mind been made to
Our readers
the valuable additions that liave
our
resources
guarana, and
recently by gelseminum sempervirens We believe that in no equally,
salicylic acid. period has our art ever had such valuable new weapons placed at its disposal. We may consider the science of therapeutics, as it at present exists, the growth of the last seventy years; prior to this period, our predecessors, acute though they were in diagnosis and prognosis, and skilled as they proved themselves in the application of the few hints, it can hardly be called knowledge of therapeutics, that they possessed, can scarcely be said to have fairly justified their existence by their treatment of medical diseases. But the advance into that province of knowledge?experimental therapeutics? once made, it was seen what vast mines of valuable material existed, which only required a moderate amount of honest labour to yield their wealth without stint. This is now fully known, and yet the labourers are few ; but, though few, the success with which they meet seems almost to increase in geometrical progression. We may hope that, if additions to our knowledge continue to be made in the future as rapidly as they have in the immediate past, we shall, within a comparatively short time, have a rational system of therapeutics based on conclusive experimental physiological evidence. But, for this happy consummation of our hopes, it is necessary that we should not only point with pride at what is being done by others, short
and thank God that
we
are
not
as
our
forefathers
were?
superstitious, ignorant, and credulous, believing in the doctrine of signatures, and the mechanical or humoral theories of disease?but that we should be ever ready to receive evidence on all points connected with therapeutics, and, as far our enquiries earnestly in as our opportunities allow, push the same direction. The field for investigation is nearly inexhaustible. Thus if we take, for example, salicylic acid, we to the group of aromatic acids which may be into these divided classes, the Cn H2n ?8 O2, Cn Il2n?10 O2, Cu H2n?8 03, in this is salicylic acid with the formula C7 H6 03> find it
belongs
Each of these
Cn H2n-10 03, Cn H2n-S 0-1, Cn H2n-10 O4. has
classes
both
have
aeids aloue of not
a
several
members, and
derivatives are
single
over
one
on
and
these
substitution
members
again These
products.
twenty in number, of which the action the animal economy is
fairly
known,
said of nearly every other group. may Organic chemistry is adding fresh groups and fresh members to known groups every day, and though we cannot expect each and
the
be
same
and every of them to be potent for good, yet the marked efficacy of many of them, as far as they are known, promises
extremely
well for those not yet tried.
fore that
the
field
is
boundless, therapeutist can only toil painfully u
PROGRESS IN THERAPEUTICS. must
be ranked
hopeful signs
for the future of
seen
there-
physiologist and behind the chemist, experimenting with but a few of the immense number of compounds that chemistry places at their command. But these products of the laboratory can be best physiologically investigated in those places where they are most easily obtained, and where
August 1, 1876.
Among the most
It will be
Medicine
the interest that is being taken in exueri-
and the
delicate apparatus is also at hand. From the great centres of the intelligence of the western world, we may therefore expect for some time most of our knowledge of this
August 1,
SYPHILIS.
1876.]
kind to come; but there are other fields, more accessible to those in this country, which are practically closed to those
living
in distant and temperate side
Flora
climates.
unsurpassed
Around
us
on
in richness and
variety by any in the world. These numerous members of the vegetable kingdom flourishing under a tropical sun, elaborate in their tissues a vast number of products ; some alkaloids, some organic acids, and some belonging to other groups equally unknown to the physiologist and the chemist. That they should continue to be unknown to the physiologist would be a disgrace to the members of the medical profession resident in this country. We are not referring at present to drugs growing in India, which on the one hand are useful as more or less perfect substitutes for European remedies, or on the other hand have a popular empirical reputation amongst hakims, baids and kobirajes as good for" certain diseases. The first class has been dealt with in various books, such as Dr. Waring'a "Bazaar Medicines and Common Medical Plants of India," and in this work we also find many plants introduced on account of their having an empirical reputation. And this knowledge is, to a certain extent, of vapie. Thus it is useful to know that the seeds of the pharbitis nil or kala dhanah are a good purge but, it cannot be said that Medicine was much in want of a new aperient; however it has its use as a substitute. Also the statement that the pedalium murex is believed by natives in Southern India to be of use in gonorrhoea and dropsy, is of interest and might repay investigation. But this kind of information, and this kind of research is not of any great value. If we are to investigate the physiological effects of the Flora of India it must be done systematically. There are many plarlts in India which are known to have very great physiological power on the animal economy. At present they are only known to us as poisons." Just as belladonna, aconite, and prussic acid were known to our predecessors as destroyers of life till the physician proved that they had also healing virtues. In the same way every plant known as a poison" should be experimented with on the lower animals, and also great care every
we see a
"
"
There are also many kinds of grain in India, the ingestion of which is followed by anomalous symptoms ; whole villages have been known to be rendered paraplegic by the lathyrus, and many other instances of grain?for instance varago?causing injury are on record. The fungi of ludia are also numerous ; and, though no great progress has been made in Europe in studying their effects, yet enough is known to excite a desire for greater knowledge, and there is no reason why India should not lead the way. When the full
physiological effects of any substance are discovered, and the quantity in which it can be safely administered known, we then have a basis to go upon for cautiously trying it as a remedy in grounds a priori in believing it
are or
a
observed in the human
record of all the symptoms that
subject
whenever the criminal
accidental administration of it affords'
an
opportunity.
In
this way, and in this way only, can sufficient information be collected to establish an induction sufficiently extensive to be of any
use
in medicine.
The
discovery
of
an
alkaloid in atees
advance, and should be (aconitum heterophvllum) followed up by a full enquiry into its physiological effects. There are a great many members of the same order, ranuncuto lacese, i" this country, and each one should also be subjected was
investigation
in the
same
a
useful
way.
plants are legion : the Cannabis indica, Dliatura, Gloriosa superba, Nerium odorum, But frondosa, Walsura piseidia, Soymida febrifuga, Cissus Carnosa, Scopolia aculeatat Somecarpus anacardium, and many The names of
physiologically
active
investigate their effects on the lower animals, on the nervous tystem, and the processes of secretion, and the alteration they cause in blood pressure, and on the circulation generally is not a work of tremendous difficulty, and with a small quantity of apparatus a very valuable amount of information could be collected. others.
To
a
disease
for which
we
will be useful.
have
We think then that it will be admitted
that few countries
greater material for research into the therapeutic effects of vegetable products than India, or more opportunities for observing the symptoms produced by the administration of
afford
hurtful
being
methods
the
on
uses
account of this spe-
on
uncommon, and
for
also that
we
pursuing directly experimental
of substances we have reason to believe
active.
physiologically
are
far from
situated
favourably
are
this nature,
substances of
cies of crime
or certain method but this. Any other empiricism, and abounds in danger. Before mankind possessed any knowledge of the human structure, and the various functions necessary to life, it was impossible to investigate the action of drugs. And, as the deviation
There is no other safe
can
only
lead to
from normal
function that disease induced was as unknown
the function
as
remedy
a
be
itself, by
no
method
Therefore the
selected.
of reasoning only plan of
could proce-
dure was to give one thing after another, till success was achieved; and, as success was as often due to nature as to the treatment, it cannot surprise us that we find almost every article of the ancient materia medica inert.
But, fortunately for us,
"
should be taken to preserve
01,
and the eminent success that lias crowned
therapeutics,
the efforts of recent workers in this direction. will call to mind been made to
Our readers
the valuable additions that liave
our
resources
guarana, and
recently by gelseminum sempervirens We believe that in no equally,
salicylic acid. period has our art ever had such valuable new weapons placed at its disposal. We may consider the science of therapeutics, as it at present exists, the growth of the last seventy years; prior to this period, our predecessors, acute though they were in diagnosis and prognosis, and skilled as they proved themselves in the application of the few hints, it can hardly be called knowledge of therapeutics, that they possessed, can scarcely be said to have fairly justified their existence by their treatment of medical diseases. But the advance into that province of knowledge?experimental therapeutics? once made, it was seen what vast mines of valuable material existed, which only required a moderate amount of honest labour to yield their wealth without stint. This is now fully known, and yet the labourers are few ; but, though few, the success with which they meet seems almost to increase in geometrical progression. We may hope that, if additions to our knowledge continue to be made in the future as rapidly as they have in the immediate past, we shall, within a comparatively short time, have a rational system of therapeutics based on conclusive experimental physiological evidence. But, for this happy consummation of our hopes, it is necessary that we should not only point with pride at what is being done by others, short
and thank God that
we
are
not
as
our
forefathers
were?
superstitious, ignorant, and credulous, believing in the doctrine of signatures, and the mechanical or humoral theories of disease?but that we should be ever ready to receive evidence on all points connected with therapeutics, and, as far our enquiries earnestly in as our opportunities allow, push the same direction. The field for investigation is nearly inexhaustible. Thus if we take, for example, salicylic acid, we to the group of aromatic acids which may be into these divided classes, the Cn H2n ?8 O2, Cn Il2n?10 O2, Cu H2n?8 03, in this is salicylic acid with the formula C7 H6 03> find it
belongs
Each of these
Cn H2n-10 03, Cn H2n-S 0-1, Cn H2n-10 O4. has
classes
both
have
aeids aloue of not
a
several
members, and
derivatives are
single
over
one
on
and
these
substitution
members
again These
products.
twenty in number, of which the action the animal economy is
fairly
known,
said of nearly every other group. may Organic chemistry is adding fresh groups and fresh members to known groups every day, and though we cannot expect each and
the
be
same
and every of them to be potent for good, yet the marked efficacy of many of them, as far as they are known, promises
extremely
well for those not yet tried.
fore that
the
field
is
boundless, therapeutist can only toil painfully u
PROGRESS IN THERAPEUTICS. must
be ranked
hopeful signs
for the future of
seen
there-
physiologist and behind the chemist, experimenting with but a few of the immense number of compounds that chemistry places at their command. But these products of the laboratory can be best physiologically investigated in those places where they are most easily obtained, and where
August 1, 1876.
Among the most
It will be
Medicine
the interest that is being taken in exueri-
and the
delicate apparatus is also at hand. From the great centres of the intelligence of the western world, we may therefore expect for some time most of our knowledge of this
August 1,
SYPHILIS.
1876.]
kind to come; but there are other fields, more accessible to those in this country, which are practically closed to those
living
in distant and temperate side
Flora
climates.
unsurpassed
Around
us
on
in richness and
variety by any in the world. These numerous members of the vegetable kingdom flourishing under a tropical sun, elaborate in their tissues a vast number of products ; some alkaloids, some organic acids, and some belonging to other groups equally unknown to the physiologist and the chemist. That they should continue to be unknown to the physiologist would be a disgrace to the members of the medical profession resident in this country. We are not referring at present to drugs growing in India, which on the one hand are useful as more or less perfect substitutes for European remedies, or on the other hand have a popular empirical reputation amongst hakims, baids and kobirajes as good for" certain diseases. The first class has been dealt with in various books, such as Dr. Waring'a "Bazaar Medicines and Common Medical Plants of India," and in this work we also find many plants introduced on account of their having an empirical reputation. And this knowledge is, to a certain extent, of vapie. Thus it is useful to know that the seeds of the pharbitis nil or kala dhanah are a good purge but, it cannot be said that Medicine was much in want of a new aperient; however it has its use as a substitute. Also the statement that the pedalium murex is believed by natives in Southern India to be of use in gonorrhoea and dropsy, is of interest and might repay investigation. But this kind of information, and this kind of research is not of any great value. If we are to investigate the physiological effects of the Flora of India it must be done systematically. There are many plarlts in India which are known to have very great physiological power on the animal economy. At present they are only known to us as poisons." Just as belladonna, aconite, and prussic acid were known to our predecessors as destroyers of life till the physician proved that they had also healing virtues. In the same way every plant known as a poison" should be experimented with on the lower animals, and also great care every
we see a
"
"
There are also many kinds of grain in India, the ingestion of which is followed by anomalous symptoms ; whole villages have been known to be rendered paraplegic by the lathyrus, and many other instances of grain?for instance varago?causing injury are on record. The fungi of ludia are also numerous ; and, though no great progress has been made in Europe in studying their effects, yet enough is known to excite a desire for greater knowledge, and there is no reason why India should not lead the way. When the full
physiological effects of any substance are discovered, and the quantity in which it can be safely administered known, we then have a basis to go upon for cautiously trying it as a remedy in grounds a priori in believing it
are or
a
observed in the human
record of all the symptoms that
subject
whenever the criminal
accidental administration of it affords'
an
opportunity.
In
this way, and in this way only, can sufficient information be collected to establish an induction sufficiently extensive to be of any
use
in medicine.
The
discovery
of
an
alkaloid in atees
advance, and should be (aconitum heterophvllum) followed up by a full enquiry into its physiological effects. There are a great many members of the same order, ranuncuto lacese, i" this country, and each one should also be subjected was
investigation
in the
same
a
useful
way.
plants are legion : the Cannabis indica, Dliatura, Gloriosa superba, Nerium odorum, But frondosa, Walsura piseidia, Soymida febrifuga, Cissus Carnosa, Scopolia aculeatat Somecarpus anacardium, and many The names of
physiologically
active
investigate their effects on the lower animals, on the nervous tystem, and the processes of secretion, and the alteration they cause in blood pressure, and on the circulation generally is not a work of tremendous difficulty, and with a small quantity of apparatus a very valuable amount of information could be collected. others.
To
a
disease
for which
we
will be useful.
have
We think then that it will be admitted
that few countries
greater material for research into the therapeutic effects of vegetable products than India, or more opportunities for observing the symptoms produced by the administration of
afford
hurtful
being
methods
the
on
uses
account of this spe-
on
uncommon, and
for
also that
we
pursuing directly experimental
of substances we have reason to believe
active.
physiologically
are
far from
situated
favourably
are
this nature,
substances of
cies of crime
or certain method but this. Any other empiricism, and abounds in danger. Before mankind possessed any knowledge of the human structure, and the various functions necessary to life, it was impossible to investigate the action of drugs. And, as the deviation
There is no other safe
can
only
lead to
from normal
function that disease induced was as unknown
the function
as
remedy
a
be
itself, by
no
method
Therefore the
selected.
of reasoning only plan of
could proce-
dure was to give one thing after another, till success was achieved; and, as success was as often due to nature as to the treatment, it cannot surprise us that we find almost every article of the ancient materia medica inert.
But, fortunately for us,
"
should be taken to preserve
01,
