Materia medica, pharmacy, pharmacology and therapeutics / by W. Hale White.

  • Hale-White, William, Sir, 1857-1949.
Date:
1897
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Materia medica, pharmacy, pharmacology and therapeutics / by W. Hale White. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    why it should be of benefit, e.g. The use of digitalis for mitral disease. (2) Empirical, when our knowledge is insufficient to tell us why the remedy is efficient, e. g. The use of mercury for syphilis. Therapeutics ought not to be included in the term Materia Medica, for that treats only of drugs ; but Therapeutics, properly speaking, is concerned with all means of alleviation. G-eneral Therapeutics is a subdivision of Thera- peutics ; it is the science and art of alleviating dis- ease by such remedies as are not drugs, e.g. diet, climate, baths, venesection, cupping, &c. In this work we shall consider only that part of Therapeutics which is concerned with drugs. A Pharmacopceia is a book published by some authorised body, generally constituted by law. This book states how to prepare the medicines in common use, and the doses in which they may safely be given. The pharmacopoeias and the authorities publishing them differ in different countries. The British Pharmacopoeia is published by the General Medical Council. The last edition appeared in 1885 and its supplement in 1890. As new drugs are discovered they are, if of use, included in new editions of the Pharmacopoeia. Everything con- tained in the Pharmacopoeia is said to be official. The abbreviation for ''British Pharmacopoeia is *' B. P. MATERIA MEDICA PROPER. As much of this as the student need know will be mentioned under each drug.