An old system and a new science / by F.E. Stewart.

  • Stewart, F. E. (Francis Edward), 1853-1941.
Date:
[1882?]
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: An old system and a new science / by F.E. Stewart. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by The Royal College of Surgeons of England. The original may be consulted at The Royal College of Surgeons of England.

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    remedial agents; a knowledge of Chemistry to investigate their active principles; a knowledge of Microscopy to deter- mine their structure, and for the purposes of identifying drugs, and preventing adulteration and substitution; a knowledge of Toxicology to determine their properties as poisons; a knowledge of Pharmacy to prepare them aright; a knowledge of Physiology to determine their physiological actions; and a knowledge of Therapeutics to ascertain their therapeutic properties. This knowledge, classified into the forms of science, and protected by a definite, changeless nomenclature; constitutes Pharmacology or the Science of Drugs.* A vast field is here opened for scientific work, and the working bulletin system was devised to promote progress therein. It is proposed that the two professions adopt a plan for co-operative work to benefit this science. By doing so employment will at once be given ta educated Physicians, Pharmacists, Chemists, Phystf)logists, Microscopists, and others who are engaged in scientific work in branches pertaining to drugs. It is then suggested that a pharmaceutical collection be placed in the National Museum, at Washington, which shall represent the donation of the United States to this science. The expense of this work is to be met by the demand created for valuable drugs by tb's investigation, and by means of it inert drugs can be culled from our Pharmacopoeia, and for them substituted a list upon which more dependence can be placed. This investigation can be carried out by means of the facilities that are in the hands of the great trade houses of this country. The amount of money spent by them in advertising turned into the channels of scientific work on the Materia Medica, would not only immortalize them, but be of the greatest service to mankind. It is my suggestion, therefore, that these houses now engaged in the manufacture of Proprietary Pharmaceuticals, recognizing the damage which they are doing to scientific nomenclature, to the Pharmacopoeia, and to medical literature, renounce their proprietaryship to these articles, and publish their true formulae for the benefit of science. And then I