A-C Cullen's Lectures on Materia Medica

Three volumes, lettered 22A, 22B and 22C.

Vol. 1 has 322 folios, paged 1-308 (page 1=fo. 15);

Vol. 2, 340 folios, paged 309-646 (page 309=fo. 2);

Vol. 3, 254 folios, paged 647-815 (page 647=fo. 7).

Vols. 1 and 2 have the following title, which is omitted in Vol. 3. "A Course of Lectures on | the Materia Medica | by | Doctor William Cullen, P.M. | in the | University of Edinburgh | taken, and | Reduced to order by | Edward Low, A.B.T.C.D. | Begun VII January MDCCLXI."

Vol.1 begins with Catalogus Materiae Medicae, written on both sides of the page. The drugs are classified as Nutrimenta, Adstringentia, Stimulantia, etc., with a separate alphabetical list under each heading.

The remainder of vol.1 and the other volumes are made up of the text of the lectures, written continuously without break on one side of the page only. Vol. 1 deals principally with Nutriments, Vol 2 with Astringents, Emollients, Stimulants, Sedatives and Antispasmodics. Vol. 3 deals with other classes and with general principles.

In Vols. 1 and 2 no comments are made, but in the course of writing Vol. 3, the writer's patience began to give way, and he frequently writes uncomplimentary comments on the lecturer. On p. 678, for instance, the lecturer gives his views on the conditions favourable to the growth of polypi, on which the writer says: "In my opinion Dr. Cullen makes this too general a cause of the Production of these Concretions." A few more specimens may be quoted. On p. 708 the lecturer refers to the renewal of the bodily fluids through the constant taking in of new food-supplies, and this provokes the comment: "It's well the Dr. did not live in the time of James the 6th of Scotland." On p. 717, Cullen was imprudent enough to state that in certain respects Boerhaave had contradicted himself, and the pupil retorts "I wish you cou'd find out some method of contradicting yourself as seldom" and again, on p. 717, "I am sure Boerhaave never thought of converting the Stomach into an Elaboratory." The comments become more piquant towards the end of the volume: e.g. "This observation is due to Dr. Pringle, tho' Dr. Cullen does not choose to let it be known" (p. 720); "A mighty pretty set of observations & worthy of the author" (p. 735); "I believe a great part of this doctrine is false or at least re ugnant to experience" (p. 788). Dr. Cullen ends his course of lectures with a conventional terminal formula: "Thus Gentlemen, I have finished the task I undertook," etc., and to this a Parthian shot is given in reply: "You have, the Lord be thanked." (p. 815).