CHEMICAL CONSTITUTION AND PHARMACOLOGICAL ACTION 409 



whereas the corresponding dyes derived from saffranin, tolusaffranin, 

 and dimethyl-saffranin do not possess this property. Some time after 

 this we received a second dyestuff, of unknown constitution, which 

 possessed the same neurotropic properties, and we therefore at once 

 assumed that this body also contained a diethylanilin radical. On 

 inquiry of the manufacturer we found our conjecture verified. This 

 staining experiment may perhaps afford valuable confirmation of the 

 view expressed above concerning the function of the ethyl radical. 



This synopsis will show that our actual knowledge concerning the 

 relation between constitution and action is still in its very infancy. 

 Hence the expectation to be able to construct new remedies of pre- 

 determined action on the basis of theoretical conceptions will prob- 

 ably have to be deferred for a long time. To the initiate the lack 

 of sufficient positive knowledge is revealed by the inactivity which 

 now characterizes a field once entered upon with so much promise. 

 The innumerable remedies which have overwhelmed medicine in the 

 past few years, of which only a few are of any value, and thus denote 

 any real progress, have sufficed speedily to allay the original enthu- 

 siam. A feeling of indifference has thus been engendered which is 

 constantly being increased by the advertisements which are daily 

 becoming more and more evident. Aside from these evils, however, 

 this line of study is at present suffering especially from two other 

 evils : 



1. The habit, when a remedy has been partly accepted, of imme- 

 diately following it with a dozen rivals of similar composition. 



2. The exclusive preference given to remedies acting purely 

 symptomatically, which are not true curative agents. 



A change for the better will only then occur if pure biological 

 points of view are adopted, i.e., if the initiative is transferred from 

 the chemical to the biological laboratory. As physicians we must 

 stop remaining content with the auxiliary role of counsel in these 

 important questions. In this subject, our very own since time 

 immemorial, we must insist on taking first place. Just now it is 

 essential that we gain more general, biological conceptions, and it 

 is therefore every one's duty to contribute his mite to the develop- 

 ment of this therapy. 



