REVIEWS.

ART. V.-The Elements of Materia Medica and Therapeutics. By JONATHAN PEREIRA, M.D., F. R. S. & L. S., Licentiate of the Royal College of Physicians in London; Member of the Royal College of Surgeons; Fellow of the Royal Medical and Chirurgical Society; Corresponding Member of the Society of Pharmacy of Paris; Honorary Member of the Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain; Examiner in Materia Medica and Pharmacy to the University of London; and Assistant Physician to, and Lecturer on Materia Medica at, the London Hospital. With numerous illustrations. From the Second London Edition, enlarged and improved. With notes and additions. By JOSEPH CARSON, M.D., Professor of Materia Medica and Pharmacy in the Philadelphia College of Pharmacy, and one of the Editors of the American Journal of Pharmacy. In two vols., 8vo. pp. 714 and 852. Philadelphia. Lea & Blanchard.

1843.

"After a long and tedious discourse," says old Burton, in his Anatomy of Melancholy, "of these six non-natural things, and their several rectifications, all which are comprehended in diet, I am come now at last to Pharmaceutice, or that kind of physic which cureth by medicines, which apothecaries most part make, mingle or sell in their shops. Many cavil at this kind of physic, and hold it unnecessary, unprofitable to this or any other disease, because those countries which use it least, live longest and are best in health, as Hector Boëthius relates of the Isles of Orcades, the people are still sound of body and mind, without any use of physic; they

live commonly one hundred and twenty years. Paulus Jovius, in his description of Britain, and Levinus Lemnius, observe as much of this island, that there was of old no use of physic amongst us, and but little at this day, except it be for a few nice, idle citizens, surfeiting courtiers, and stall-fed gentlemen lubbers. The country people use kitchen physic, and common experience tells us, that they live freest from all manner of infirmities, that make least use of apothecaries' physic."

Times are greatly changed in that wonderful island since the days of Paulus Jovius, and of the quaint author of the Anatomy of Melancholy, and men have changed with them. No doubt, now, as then, the "nice, idle citizens" take more than a fair proportion of the apothecary's physic, but the products of the culinary art no longer suffice for the happy inhabitants of the country. Hygeia has ceased to be the propitious divinity, lengthening the days of men to six score years, and the present short-lived race of mortals are doomed to seek succor from the disciples of Esculapius. It were indeed bad for our numerous "flourishing" medical schools, with their crowds of young aspirants after fees and fame, if the consumption of physic were not increasing, pari passu, with the growth of our population. The splendid work, the title of which stands at the head of this article, affords indubitable proof of the prosperous condition of the apothecary's art. Here we have nearly sixteen hundred closely printed pages on Materia Medica; not diluted-spun out to make a big book, but pages of condensed matter, the writer being evidently a man who has a just appreciation of the value of time. The author speaks of it as merely a faithful "outline" of this department of medicine, and considering the vast range of subjects embraced in it, it is surprising that the work should have been brought within such reasonable limits. Besides what belongs strictly to Materia Medica, it contains a concise account of the most important modern discoveries in Natural History, Chemistry, Physiology, and Therapeutics, in so far as they pertain to Pharmacology. It is a singularly

complete work. We have heard it objected to, as being too learned for the medical pupils of our country; but, we confess, we like it all the better for its learning. The study necessary to master it will make the more accomplished practitioners. It exhibits the true connexions between pharmacy, chemistry, physiology, and therapeutics, and the reader of Pereira must have a pretty thorough acquaintance with these branches in order to read him with satisfaction. It is the very work, in our judgment, which the wants of the American profession demand. It will give a higher interest to the study of Materia Medica, and enhance its dignity as a branch of medical education, because it is exhibited in this work more fully than ever before, in any English treatise, in its philosophical bearings. Every practitioner ought to supply himself with a copy of it for his own use, and especially for the benefit of his pupils, the thorough study of which should make an indispensable part of their medical education.

Prefixed to the elements is a Tabular view of the History and Literature of the Materia Medica, beginning with Egyp tian medicine, seventeen centuries before the christian era, extending over all countries where it has been cultivated, and coming down to the publication of Dr. Dunglison's Therapeutics and Materia Medica in the year just closed. This is a fair specimen of the character of Pereira's Materia Medica. It omits nothing. When a subject is barely introduced, such references are given by the author as will enable the curious reader to pursue his researches to the utmost extent of his wishes.

The first part of this work treats of General Therapeutics, including psychical, or mental remedies, as external and internal affections of the mind; and corporal remedies, as the imponderable agents, light, heat, electricity, and magnetism; hygienic agents, as food, exercise and climate; and pharmacological agents, or medicines, the means of ascertaining their effects, their active forces, their physiological effects, their absorption into the living system, their operation by nervous

agency, the parts affected by the remote action of the medicines, the general nature of the effects of medicines, the modification of their effects by circumstances, their therapeutical effects, the parts to which they are applied, and their pharmacological classification. We shall not attempt to follow the learned author in the discussion of all these topics, much less to give an analysis of his matter, which would be impossible in a space much more limited than than that of the work itself, but shall select, here and there, such passages as may appear to us likely to interest our readers, and afford to them, at the same time, the means of judging of the value of these Elements.

Under the head of internal affections of the mind, our author has the following remarks:

"Emotions and passions of the mind have a most powerful influence upon the disorders of the body. Much of the evidence, however, which establishes the truth of this statement, is rather curious than practically useful, and as the general fact is well known and admitted, I shall confine myself to a few practical illustrations. Hope is a mildly stimulating or tonic passion, which may be beneficially employed in all diseases, and which proves injurious in few, if in any cases. Most patients receive with satisfaction and benefit, assurances of the prospect of recovery from their medical attendant. Even in diseases of a mortal charcter, life may be sometimes prolonged, by concealing from the sufferer the fatal nature of his malady. I fully agree with the learned President of the College of Physicians, Sir H. Halford, that the first duty of the physician is 'to protract the life of his patient by all practicable means."""

We do not believe that the physician is required by any obligation to deceive his patients. It is unquestionably his duty to protract their lives to the utmost of his ability, but we can readily suppose that a few hours of painful life might be purchased at too high a price. It is the right of the patient to be informed of his true condition; he has claims upon his physician to deal with him in candor, as well as in gentleness; and we doubt whether a revelation of the truth to the sufferer, if done with tenderness and judgment, has ever giv

en a fatal termination to disease, or materially shortened life. An amiable weakness of our nature inclines us to deceive the sick upon a question, to them, of the most momentous concern. It is better that we should resist the temptation, and act towards our patients as becomes christians and honest But it is no part of our purpose in this article to write a homily, and so we proceed to Materia Medica.

men.

The vitiated air of cow-houses as a remedy in pulmonary diseases, we supposed had gone out of use since the time of Beddoes; but Dr. Pereira publishes a note from his pupil, Mr. Steinhausen, of Saxony, from which it would appear that this remedial agent still holds its ground in that country.

"In Germany," he says, "the balsamic air of cow-sheds is commonly recommended as a preventive in suspected pulmonary disease, or as a means of prolonging life in a confirmed phthisis. Although this latter disease is comparatively of rare occurrence in Saxony, yet several cases have fallen under my observation in which this plan of treatment was adopted. The mode of effecting it has varied according to circumstances: in some cases the patient has merely retired from a crowded town to a farm-house; in others, the sitting and bed-rooms have actually been converted into residences for cows. Of the former I have known several instances, where patients have been greatly benefited by sleeping in apartments built over cow-stalls; and this, I should say, is the most usual plan adopted."

The benefit derived from breathing this air by pulmonary invalids, our author thinks, is referrible in part to its warmth and moisture, but he supposes that the carbonic acid which is also present, may dilute the oxygen of the air and render it less stimulating and hurtful.

Cold, as a curative agent, is treated of with sufficient minuteness, but our author has not recommended it as highly as it deserves to be. The profession is not yet alive to the value of ice, cold drinks, and cold applications in our febrile and inflammatory affections. Many practitioners are to be met with who are still afraid to allow patients laboring under fever, cholera infantum, and similar complaints, the free use of ice. So benign have we found the action of cold in such