Copy 1

A translation of the pharmacopoeia of the Royal College of Physicians, of London. 1824. / With notes and illustrations. By Richard Phillips.

  • Royal College of Physicians of London.
Date:
1824
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: A translation of the pharmacopoeia of the Royal College of Physicians, of London. 1824. / With notes and illustrations. By Richard Phillips. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    impression we resolved, as far as could be done, to affix to medicines those names which are correct, and which . accord with the nature of each, taking care at the same time that the length of the titles should not prove incon- venient to the prescriber. If, therefore, in order. to express clearly the composition of ‘any preparation, a number of words became necessary, we have preferred a more simple appellation, even though less scientific. ‘With respect to ourselves, we have spared no pains to render the present edition as perfect as possible. Not that we dare to imagine that it will satisfy every inquirer, or that it is free from errors; but before any one proceeds. to criticise these with severity, we entreat him to reflect upon the diversity and difficulty which a work of this kind involves, and we trust he will not then be offended with a few faults which may occur.—But on this point enough has been said. Some terms which are employed require a more earnest apology, since they may seem to deviate more than was necessary from common usage, such as Anthemis ; or to sound harshly and barbarously, as Potassa: upon the ad- mission of these we for some time paused ; but what could be done against the authority of all the naturalists of the present day ; or with what propriety could we alone retain names of animals, vegetables, and minerals, which the chief writers in this branch of science had applied to substances entirely dissimilar? We have therefore thought it better to risk the accusation of barbarism, than to admit terms of doubtful or uncertain signification, or to dissent in a few names only from the established practice of chemists. With respect to the change which we have determined upon making in the measures of liquids, we do not fear b»