PHARMACOLOGY. 413 



cipal pharmaceutical work of the middle ages, was the Jlntidotarium, 

 published by Prapositus, of Salerno, as early as the twelfth century 

 Paracelsus, the founder of the chemical party in medicine, published 

 a work on the medical virtues of antimony ; and brought that article 

 into extensive use. The Dispensatory of Valerius Cordus, published 

 in 1542, was long used as a guide in compounding medicines; but 

 the Fundamenta Materiae Medicae, of the German Cartheuser, 

 founded on the improvements then already made in botany and che- 

 mistry, introduced a new and more scientific era, in the present 

 branch of medical knowledge. In France, this science was pro- 

 moted by the labors of Chomel and Geoffrey ; and in England, the 

 treatise of Lewis, improved by Dr. Aiken, contributed much to its 

 advancement. A superior classification of medicines has since been 

 proposed by Dr. Young; and modified by Dr. A. T. Thompson : nor 

 should we here omit to mention the U. S. Pharmacopeia, prepared 

 by a convention of physicians, as a work of high authority ; and the 

 Dispensatory of Drs. Wood and Bache, as one of sterling value. 



We proceed to treat of Pharmacology under the heads of Thera- 

 peutics ; Materia Medica ; Pharmacy, and Toxicology. 



1. Under the head of Therapeutics, we would treat of the clas- 

 sification of medicines, in reference to the manner in which they act, 

 or the effects which they produce, on the human system. The clas- 

 sification here presented, is drawn chiefly from Dr. Dunglison's re- 

 cent and valuable treatise on Therapeutics. In reference to their 

 mode of action, medicines are classed as either vital, chemical, or 

 mechanical agents. The vital agents, are those which directly 

 affect the functions of life ; acting either as excitants, which increase, 

 or sedatives, which diminish organic action. The chemical agents, 

 are those which produce an immediate chemical change, favorable to 

 health ; and the mechanical agents, are so called, because they are 

 supposed to act mechanically, in producing their peculiar effects. 



The excitant medicines, are farther subdivided into several orders, 

 if we may use the term ; according to their peculiar effects. The 

 stimulants, or excitants proper, are those which transiently increase 

 the vital action, whether locally or generally; including carminatives, 

 or remedies against flatulence, or wind in the stomach. Tonics, not 

 only excite, but permanently invigorate the system ; including an- 

 thelmintics, or medicines to expel worms. Emetics, are medicines 

 used to produce nausea and vomiting ; and cathartics, are used for 

 loosening, or cleansing the system ; being called laxatives, when 

 gradual ; purgatives, when sudden ; and drastics when severe, in their 

 operation. Diaphoretics, or sudorifics, are used to produce perspi- 

 ration ; diuretics, to increase the secretion of the kidneys ; errhines, 

 to produce sneezing, or nasal secretion, sometimes relieving the 

 head ; and expectorants, to remove obstructions of the air passages, 

 and of the lungs, Sialogogues, are medicines which increase the se- 

 cretion of saliva. Sorbefacients, are employed to cause the absorp- 

 tion and removal of superfluous, or noxious fluids : revellents, among 

 which are rubefacients and vesicants, producing local irritation and 

 blisters, serve thereby to reduce the diseased action of other parts : 

 and antispasmodics, on a similar principle, remove muscular contrac- 



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