The Edinburgh new dispensatory ... Illustrated and explained in the language and according to the principles of modern chemistry. With ... tables and several copper-plates, explaining the new system of chemical characters.

  • Duncan, Andrew, Jun., 1773-1832.
Date:
1803
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: The Edinburgh new dispensatory ... Illustrated and explained in the language and according to the principles of modern chemistry. With ... tables and several copper-plates, explaining the new system of chemical characters. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by The University of Glasgow Library. The original may be consulted at The University of Glasgow Library.

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    The ancient pra&ice of naming medicines from their inves- tors, or fuppofed virtues, has been for fome time exploded from our Pharmacopoeias; but it has been long cullomary Xp defcribe both fimple fubllances and their preparations or competitions by what are generally termed Officinal Names, in contradi- flin&ion to the prefent fy Hematic names of the fame fubllances. But their officinal names are in fadt the old fyftematic names, which were unaccountably retained for the denomination of medicinal fubllances, after the improvements in Natural Hif- tory and Chemiftry rendered the introduction of a new no- menclature into thefe fciences neceffiary. Attempts have been made, both in this Country and in Ger- many, to introduce the language of Chemiftry into Pharmacy; but thefe attempts, however ufeful, were but feeble and incom- plete. The honour of being the firll to compofe a Pharmaco- poeia in the pure and unmixed language of Science, belongs in- difputably to the Royal Cbllege of Phylicians of Edinburgh, in the beginning of the Nineteenth Century. It is extremely probable that to this innovation many objections may be made; but it is probable that they will rather apply to the neceffiary imperfeClions of a firll attempt, than to the principle itfelf, the propriety of wrhich can fcarcely be doubted, when we confider, that Materia Medica and Pharmacy are but an application of Natural Hillory and Chemiftry to a particular purpofe. If the general principle be admitted, it naturally follows, that the names ol all Subftances employed in Medicine, ftiould be the lame with the names of the fame fubllances, according to the moll approved fyllems of Natural Hillory and Chemiftry, and that the titles of Compound Bodies fhould exprefs as accurately as poffible the nature of their compolition. Conliderable difficulties, however, occur, in attempting to form a nomenclature in ftriCl conformity with thefe principles. The moll apparent of thefe is, that the titles of the more com- pounded medicines would become too verbofe and inconvenient, Af t^le7 were to exprefs every ingredient, although of little im- portance. The College, fully aware of this difficulty, have there- fore contented themfelves with indicating in the titles the prin- cipal