The elements of materia medica and therapeutics (Volume 1).

  • Pereira, Jonathan, 1804-1853.
Date:
1843
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Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: The elements of materia medica and therapeutics (Volume 1). Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by the National Library of Medicine (U.S.), through the Medical Heritage Library. The original may be consulted at the National Library of Medicine (U.S.)

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    PHARMACOGNOSY. III.—AGENTIA MECHANICA ET CHIRURGICA.-MECHANI- CAL AND SURGICAL AGENTS. The consideration of these subjects does not fall within the province of this work. IV.-AGENTIA PHARMACOLOGICA SEU MEDIC AM ENTA.- PHARMACOLOGICAL AGENTS OR MEDICINES. (Medicamina; fc*^***.) Pharmacological Agents or Medicines are substances, not essentially ali- mentary, used in the treatment of diseases, and which when applied to the body, alter or modify its vital actions. Aliments are vital stimuli (see p. 44, foot-note,) which vivify, and can themselves be vivified; (See Mailer's Elements of Physiology, by Baly, vol. i. p. 31.) since they are assimulated to our organs, and become integrant parts of the living body. Poisons are distinguished from medicines principally in the degree of their effects, and the uses to which they are applied; for the most powerful poisons become, when administered under proper regulations, very valuable medicines. Pharmacology (Pharmacologic!, from <px^»Ke,v, a medicine; and Xoyor, a dis- course,) or Materia Medica, is that branch of Acology devoted to the considera- tion of medicines. a.. General Pharmacology (Pharmacologic! generalis) treats of medicines generally. 0. Special Pharmacology (Pharmacologia specialis) treats of medicines individually. Pharmacology is divided into three departments, termed respectively Pharma- cognosy, Pharmacy, and Pharmacodynamics. 1. PHARMACOGNOSY—PHARMACOGNOSY. (Physiographische Arzneimittellehre, Pfaff; (System dcr Materia Medica, ler Band, S. 2. Leipzig, 1808.) Phar- maceulische Waarenkunde, Ooebel; (Goebel and Kunse's Pharmaceutische Haarenkunde, Eisenach, 1827-29.) Histoire des drogues simples, Guibourt; (Ilistoire Abregee des Drogues Simples, 3me ed. Paris, 1836.) Phar- ma comathie, Cotlcreau1) Pharmacognosy (from (pxpf*,xx.ov, a medicine; and yiyvo<ry.u, I know) is that de- partment of Pharmacology which treats of the origin, properties, varieties, quality, and purity of Unprepared Medicines or Simples (medicamenta cruda.) In other words, Pharmacognosia treats of all that relates to the commerce of drugs. Strictly speaking, it is a department of what the'Germans call Waarenkunde (Merchandize- Knowledge;) and hence is sometimes called pharmaceutische Waarenkunde (pharmaceutical Merchandize-Knowledge.) As we have no word in the English language corresponding to Waarenkunde, I would suggest that of Agorasmalogy (from nyo^o-fjix, merchandize; and yotoe, a discourse.) Unprepared Medicines or Simples are either Foreign or Indigenous. The former are imported by the merchant, and sold on his behalf, by the drug-broker, to the wholesale druggist. Much valuable information connected with the commerce of Foreign drugs will be found in the following works and periodicals:— 1. A Dictionary, practical, theoretical, and historical, of Commerce and Commercial Navi- gation. By J. R. M'Culloch, Esq. A new edition, with Supplement to Jan. 1839. 2. Bill of Entry, B. published daily. 3. Trade List and Weekly Register of Customs and Parliamentary Accounts.—[The Lon- don Medical Gazette gives a monthly list of Drugs on sale, with their prices and several du- ties taken from the Trade List.] 4. The Public Ledger. A daily newspaper, containing the advertisements for the drug Bales. 5. Parliamentary Papers. The following returns are especially useful to the pharmacolo- gist ;— » Traitc Elcmcntairc dc Pharmacologic. Paris, 1835— Pharmacomathie, from Aapunnev and Mafia, I seek, or inquire.