108 



Great care, therefore, should always be exercised, first to ascer- 

 tain whether the remedy given is a harmless one. This can generally 

 be ascertained by submitting specimens of the plants used, for 

 Botanical examination ; as the general characters of the various 

 orders in relation to their medical properties are fairly well known, 

 and it can generally be decided when a " remedy" should be looked 

 upon with suspicion, or pronounced harmless material. In recent 

 years, however, before a new drug or a neAv " remedy" gains admis- 

 sion to the Pharmacopoeia, it has to pass through many tests and 

 many trials by competent authority ; and until it has passed these 

 successfully, the medical profession as a rule will not attempt to use 

 it. In this they are qiiite justified, for it is certain that it is safer to 

 use an old well-established and well-known remedy, than to make use 

 of one, the properties of which are little known, and whose examina- 

 tion has not been fully carried out. 



Some one however must make a start, and in the case of medicines 

 which it is known " can do no harm, if they do no good," there is 

 little risk in actual use of them ; but in the case of remedies of a 

 poisonous or suspicious character, it is easily seen what a large 

 amount of care must be exercised in making trials, and such trials it 

 is evident should not be carried out except by those whose knowledge 

 of medicine and medical practice is of the highest standard ; in fact, 

 it can hardly be done except by physicians who devote their lives to 

 scientific and experimental rather than to " family practice," and few 

 others can be induced to attempt it, as the responsibilities it incurs 

 are of such a nature as not to be lightly undertaken. 



It will be seen, therefore, how difficult it is for a new drug or ■ 

 remedy to attain standard rank, and we cannot wonder at the length 

 of time taken to place it in the lists of the various Pharmacoj)oeia. 

 In speaking of " Ardrue" it can be shewn that it has been known for 

 many many years as a reputed cure for yellow fever and vomiting in 

 excess from various causes, and yet it is only recently that Ave have 

 seen it made into a preparation suitable for easy administration. 

 Whether extended trial will prove it to be valuable or otherwise, time 

 alone can prove, but speaking from personal use of it, it can be 

 declared that it is pleasant to use, and is certainly efficacious in 

 removing the unpleasant symptoms in atonic dj^spepsia, but whether 

 it will ever attain flag rank by being placed on the Pharmacopoeia as 

 a standard preparation, is a question which has yet to be decided. 



