CONTENTS

PROLEGOMENA.

PAGE

Definitions— (Therapeutics, Acology, Remedies, Pharmacology, or MateriaMedico.)

Means of ascertaining the operation of medicines .. . . .. .. 1

Examination of their physical and chemical properties .. .. 1

Observation of their effects . . .. .. .. .... 5

Mode of action of medicines . . .. .. .. . . .. 7

Active forces of medicines .. .. .. • ■ . . .. 7

Mechanical .. . . .. .. . . .. 8

Chemical .. .. .. .. .. .. .... 9

Dynamical .. .. .. .. .. .. 11

Vital force of the organism .. . . .. .... 12

Physiological effects of medicines .. .. . . 12

Topical or local effects . . .. .. .. .... 12

Mechanical or mechanico-vital effects . . .. .. .. 12

Chemical or chemico-vital effects .. . . .. .. 13

Vita! effects (vascular, nervous, &c.) .. .. .. .. 13

Remote effects . . .. . . .. .. .. .... 13

Chemical effects .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 13

Vital effects . . .. .. .. . . .. .... 13

Absorption of medicines .. . . . . .. .. .. 14

Proofs— (table of substances found in the urine) .. .. .. 14

Vessels effecting absorption . . .. .. . . .. .. 15

Veins .. .. .... 15

Lacteals and lymphatics . . .. . . .. 17

Mechanism of absorption .. .. .. .. .. 17

Absorption byphysical agency [imbibition; exosmose and endosmose) 17Absorption by a vital agency . . .. .. .. .. 18

Is the absorption of a medicine, or poison, essential to the productionof its remote effects ?—(Proofs of the affirmative; Morgan andAddison’s experiments; objections to them) . . .. .. .. 18

How do medicines and poisons, which have entered the blood-vessels,

affect distant organs ? .. .. .. .. .. .. 22

By inducing a mechanical, chemical, or vital change, in theproperties of the blood, and thereby unfitting it for carryingon the functions of the body .. .. .... 22

By pervading the structure of the organ acted on . . .. 24

By acting on the membrane lining the blood-vessels .. .. 26