THE RELATIONS OF THERAPEUTICS 165 



The science of therapeutics quite properly does not follow a one- 

 sided course, but seeks aid in all directions, and since the results 

 of the exact natural sciences are not yet ripe to guide us clearly, 

 we must take into consideration what has been gained by prac- 

 tical experience, for it would be a false principle to condemn popu- 

 lar medicines without examination. At the beginning of this lec- 

 ture the successful application of digitalis was already mentioned. 



And here we must not entirely neglect the historical side of em- 

 piric observation. Frequently even the most absurd practices are 

 based upon theory. When we turn away in disgust from the unclean 

 excretory products of animals used in ancient times and by Asiatic 

 nations, which we now regard as the very outcome of folly, we cannot 

 ignore the fact that even this practice was founded on theory, 

 though a false one. This is proved by Pliny, who tells us that ani- 

 mals eat and digest plants, but the medicinal part is not absorbed 

 by the organism, but excreted, for which reason the feces contain 

 substances curing human ills. These prejudices remained for cen- 

 turies, as is proved by Paulini's book, published in 1697, but which 

 can now be read only with disgust. 



Such excretions as musk and castoreum, which are undoubtedly 

 of value, should by no means be rejected. But particularly the 

 nineteenth century has directed attention to the question whether 

 the products of the organs themselves, or certain substances con- 

 tained therein, might not be employed as remedies. 



It was no easy task for Brown-Sequard to prove that the prin- 

 ciples contained in the testicles of animals exercise a stimulating 

 and exciting influence on the system. The discovery of spermin 

 crystals, their occurrence in various organs, and the decidedly 

 stimulating effect produced by these substances, reminded physi- 

 cians that creatin, which had already been obtained from meat 

 extract, had an effect similar to that produced by the salts of potas- 

 sium on the animal body. This, as we may say, weak connecting 

 link yet led to the further development of a principle in therapeu- 

 tics. Medical chemistry has already succeeded in obtaining from 

 the organism substances which may be of the greatest importance 

 for therapeutics. You all know the effect of thyreoidin on the sys- 

 tem. Obviously the active principles here are albuminoid bodies, 

 the peculiarity of which has already been partly explained by 

 Baumann in that iodine is one of their component parts. Prob- 

 ably no one would have imagined that this element must be re- 

 garded as one of the constituents of the human organism. 



The very much studied question of the constitution of albumen 

 will naturally lead to a more exact knowledge of the different kinds 

 of albumen which are of value therapeutically and open a new field 

 of observation to pharmacology. 



