IN MEDICAL SCIENCE. 69 



cumulative effects of a salt diet in producing scurvy, 

 or of spurred rye in producing dry gangrene. As 

 the effects of such substances are a violence to the 

 organs, we should exercise the same caution with re- 

 gard to their use that we would exercise about any 

 other kind of poisonous food, — partridges at certain 

 seasons, for instance. Even where these poisonous 

 kinds of food seem to be useful, we should still regard 

 them with great jealousy. Digitalis lowers the pulse 

 in febrile conditions. Veratrum viride does the same 

 thing. How do we know that a rapid pulse is not a 

 normal adjustment of nature to the condition it accom- 

 panies ? Digitalis has gone out of favor ; how sure 

 are we that Veratrum viride will not be found to do 

 more harm than good in a case of internal inflammation, 

 taking the whole course of the disease into considera- 

 tion? Think of the change of opinion with regard 

 to the use of opium in delirium tremens^ (which you 

 remember is sometimes called delirium vigilans,^ where 

 it seemed so obviously indicated, since the publica- 

 tion of Dr. Ware's admirable essay. I respect the 

 evidence of my contemporaries, but I cannot forget 

 the sayings of the Father of medicine, — Ars longa^ 

 judicium difficile. 



I am not presuming to express an opinion concern- 

 ing Veratrum viride^ which was little heard of when 

 I was still practising medicine. I am only appealing 

 to that higher court of experience which sits in judg- 



