» London. 
The object of the present work is thus 
explained: 
*« Dr. Lewis published the first edition of 
his New Dispensatory in 1753. The prin- 
cipal part of the work was a cominentary 
upon the London and Edinburgh Pharma- 
¢opeeias, of both of which it contained a com- 
plete and accurate translation. A concise 
system of the theory and practice of phar- 
macy was prefixed as an introduction, and 
directions for extemporancous prescription, 
with many ¢legant examples, and a collec- 
tion of eflicacious but cheap remedies for the 
“use of the poor, were added as an appendix. 
<* The manner in which the whole was 
executed placed Dr. Lewis at the liead of the 
teformers of chemical pharmacy ; for he con- 
tributed more than any-of his predecessors 
to improve that science, both by ihe adieions 
criticism with which he combated the erro- 
neous opinions prevalent in his time, and by 
‘the actual and important additions he made 
‘tothat branch of our knowledge. He wasjustly 
' rewarded by the decided approbation of the 
public. During the author's lifetime many edi- 
tions were Eabbshel, each succeeding one be- 
ingimprovedas theadvancement ofthe sciences 
connected with pharmacy suggested improve- 
ments. After the death of Dr. Lewis, Drs. 
Webster, Duncan, and Rotherham, succes- 
sively contributed to maintain the reputation 
of the work by taking advantage of the discove- 
ries madein natural history and chemistry, and 
by making those alterations which new edi- 
tions of the Pharmacopaia, on whith it was 
founded, rendered necessary. From the place 
of their publication, and to distinguish them, 
from the original work of Dr. Lewis, which 
was still reprinted in London, these improved 
editions were entitled the Edinburgh New 
Dispensatory. When the Edinburgh Col- 
_ lege some time ago detern:ined to publish a 
_ new edition of their Pharmacopezia, the book- 
_ sellers who purchased the copyright of that 
work, being desirous that. it should be ae- 
companied by a corresponding edition of the 
Edinburgh New Dispensatory, applied to the 
" present editor to make the necessary altera- 
tions, This be readily undertook, and the 
‘number of alterations made will shew, that 
“if he has not fulfilled what was expected 
_ from him, it has been owing to want of abi- 
lity and not to want of exertion.” 
__ The purchasers of this every way va- 
luable work will discover no want either 
of ability or exertion in the author; the 
whole isa complete well-executed sys- 
»tem of pharmacy, excellently calculated 
“both for practical use, and for the im- 
provement of the learner. It ought to 
DUNCAN’S EDINBURGH NEW DitsPENSATORY. 
803 
» plaining the New System of Chemical Characters, and representing the mo» useful phar- 
» maceutical Apparatus. By Anprew Duycan, jun. M.D. Fellow of the Royal College 
of Physicians, and Royal Society of Edinburgh, and Associate of the Linnean Society of 
be kept in a drawer of every apotheca- 
ry's shop. 
The chemical part of pharmacy is that 
which has received the greatest additions, 
and a short sketch of general chemistry 
is prefixed. 
Many smaller additions are inserted, 
which are real improvements. One of 
them is a list of those articles of materia 
medica excluded from the British col- 
leges, but retained in some of the phar- 
macoperias of the continent. 
The following short specimen will 
shew the manner in which the most im- 
portant part of the work is executed. 
‘¢Diciratis Purpurea. Folia. (Edin.} 
« Digitalis Folium. (Lond. Dub.) 
*© Foxglove. The leaycs. 
«© Willd. &- 1155. sp. 1. Didynamia Angio- 
spermia. Nat. ord. Solanacee. 
“« This is an indigenous biennial plant, very 
common on hedge banks and sides of hills, in 
dry, gravelly, or sandy soils ; and the beauty 
of its appearance has gained ita place in our 
gardens and shrubberies. The leaves are 
large, oblong, egg-shaped, soft, covered with 
hairs, and serrated. hey have a bitter, very 
nauseous taste, with some acrimony. 
«« Tis effects when swallowed are, 
«1. Todiminish the frequency of the pulse. 
«© 2. To diminish the imritability of the 
system. 
*« 3.. To increase the action of the absorb- 
ents. 
‘¢ 4. To increase the discharge by urine. 
“«« Ta excessive doses it produces vomiting, 
purging, dimness of sight, vertizo, delirium, 
hiccough, convulsions, collapse, death. For 
these symptoms, the best remedies are cor- 
dials and stimulants. 
‘«Jnternally, digitalis has been recom- 
mended, 
“‘ 1. In inflammatory diseases, from its 
very remarkable power of diminishing the ve- 
locity of the circulation. 
«© 2. In aetive hemorrhagies, in phthisis. 
“<3. In some spasmodic affections, as in 
spasmodic asthma, palpitation, &c. 
«© 4. In mania from effusion on the brain. 
«© 5. In arasarcous and dropsical effusions. 
*¢ 6. In scrofulous tumours. 
«©7. In aneurism of the aorta, we have 
seen it alleviate the most distressing symp- 
toms. saa ay 
«* Externally, it has been applied to sero- 
fulous tumours. It'may be exhibited, 
«1, In substance, either by itself, orcon- 
joined with some aromatic, or made into pills 
with soap or guurammoniac.. Withgring di- 
rects oo, leaves to be gatheted-after the flow. 
$F 2 
