124 FLORA HOMCOPATHICA. 
terial., etc., p. 268), from the fabulous times of medicine, 
*‘ out of which, it is true, we have at the present day not yet 
completely issued ;” in which latter point, at least, he is with- 
out doubt perfectly right. ‘The dissolvent virtue of Camphor 
has been in many quarters praised and proved; and yet Léseke 
says, in his Materia Medica (6th edit., 1790, p. 162): “It often 
causes indurations of the glands, particularly confirmed ery- 
sipelas ; it expels the acrid matter which causes gout and pains 
in the limbs, from the parts that could stand the virulence 
thereof, into the vitals, and thereby often cuts short life with 
the greatest rapidity.”” And yet has not Camphor been, on the 
contrary, set forth as an excellent remedy in rheumatismus 
vagus? To all these controversies it remains to be added, that 
Camphor was combined with other remedies known to be 
prejudicial to its workings, and to stand in an antidotary 
relation to it, namely, with opium, mercury, cantharides, and 
saltpetre. As regards the latter, Scudery expressly observes 
that it diminishes the effect of Camphor (Arch. Génér. de Méd., 
1829, vol. xxvi. No. 9, p. 143). If this combination was made 
designedly, then let us hear what Schoene (Pract. Pharm., 
Berl., 1815, vol. i. p. 117) says to it: “* The union with weak- 
ening medicines, as saltpetre, etc., recommended in former 
times, must be considered a folly. Who is there capable of 
acting so absurdly, and thinking to combine two opposite 
remedies, when the action of the one nullifies the effect of the 
other? If the Camphor is thought to act too violently, it is 
better not to give it at all; but should it be considered neces- 
sary to administer it, one should then begin with the smallest 
dose, and one will be sure never to err. For children, one 
may divide the grain into several parts, being still assured of 
obtaining the genuine effect of one’s remedy.” This is the very 
_ thing Hahnemann taught, and had such a course been pursued 
long ago, the pharmacology of the 2000 years old science of 
medicine would now have been in a better state than is actually 
the case; genuine experience would have been gained, all 
