308 Medicine. 



ness, and efficacy. From the same source physi- 

 cians have learned to reject many inert and useless 

 substances which formerly held a place in the 

 materia medica. They have been taught, also, 

 by chemistry, greater accuracy in forming their 

 preparations, more easy, efficacious, and correct 

 methods of exhibiting different substances, and 

 more definite rules for adapting remedies to dis^ 

 eases. To enumerate those who have distinguished 

 themselves by contributing to the improvement of 

 the materia medica, through the medium of che- 

 mical investigations, would be to repeat the long 

 catalogue of great chemists before given, whose 

 names do so much honour to the last age. 



Several systematic WTiters on the materia me- 

 dica hav^e been already mentioned. To these 

 might be added a much greater number, w^hohave 

 written learnedly and extensively on the subject, 

 did not the limits of this review forbid such an 

 enumeration. It w^ould be improper, however, 

 not to take some notice of what has been done in 

 this department of medical philosophy by Lieu- 

 TAUD, Fer rein, and especially by Venel, of France ; 

 by Cartheuser, Spielman, and Murray, of Ger- 

 many; and by Hill, Lewis, Alston, Cullen, 

 and Darw^in, of Great-Britain. Of these the 

 w^ork of Dr. Lev/is, improved by Dr. Aiken ; that of 

 Professor Cullen; and particularly the Apparatus 

 Medicaminwn of Professor Murray, of Goettin- 

 gen (the most extensive, learned, and complete 

 of ali), are entitled to the largest share of esteem. 



The late work of Professor Barton, on the 

 materia medica of the United States," forms a 



Collections for an Essay toivards a Materia M-ed'tca of the United States^ 

 8vo. 1798. Under this modest title, Dr. Barton has presented a body of 

 information, and discovered an accuracy and extent of learning, which 

 might, without impropriety, have made higher claims. It is pleasing to 

 observe that this work is so favourably received by the author's country^ 

 men, that a second edition was lately demanded, into which he has introduceiJ 

 considerable additions and improvements. 



