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The best arrangements of the authors just quoted are, in my opinion,those of Drs. Murray, Duncan, and A. T. Thomson. I subjoin that ofDr. Duncan:—
DR. DUNCAN’S PHYSIOLOGICAL CLASSIFICATION OF THE MATERIA
MEDICA.
ALIMENT A.
E VAC U ANTI A.
External Agents act,
When they act medicinally
(b) Food - - Cibi.
When they act medicinallyII. By evacuation
(a) By the skin insensibly-sensibly
(b) By the mucous membraneOf the nostrilsOf the lungsOf the stomachOf the intestinesOf the uterus -
(a) By glandular secretionThe kidneysThe salivary glandsIII. By exciting the vital powers
(a) Chiefly of the parts to which they
are appliedApplied externallyCausing redness
- serous secretion
- purulent secretion
Administered internally.
Condimenta when alimentary.
When acting medicinally
(b) Of the system generally -(a) Obscurely, hut more durably
Producing no immediate obvious effectConstricting fibres and coagulating fluids -
STIMULANTIA.
TOPICA.
GENERALLY.
PERMANENTIA.
TRANSITORIA.
DEPRIMENTIA.
(b) More evidently, but less durably,
Acting on the organic functionsActing on the mental functionsIV. By depressing the vital powers
Acting on the organic functions -Acting on the mental functionsV. By chemical influence on the fluids, CHEMICAAcidifying ....
Alkalizing -
Diluentia.
Demulcentia.
Diaphoretica.
Rubefacientia.
Vesicantia.
Sul’I* UR ANTI A.
Carminativa.
Tonic a.Astringentja.
Calefacientia.
Inebkiantia.
Refrigerantia.
Narcotica.
Acida.
Alkalina.
A very cursory examination of the substances placed by the authorunder each of the above classes will satisfy the most superficial observerthat this classification does not, in a large number of instances, effectthat which it proposes to do ; namely, to arrange together “ substancesaccording to the effects which they produce in a state of health.” Forexample, under the head of diaphoretics and sudorifics we have mustard,copaiva, opium, ipecacuanha, alcohol, antimony, ammonia, and mercury;among narcotics are opium, nux vomica, foxglove, saffron, and colclii-cum ; in the class sialogogues we have, horseradish, tobacco, and mer-cury. Now no one will pretend*' to affirm that the substances thusgrouped together operate in an analogous manner on the system, or thattheir effects are similar.