BRIEF RETROSPECT 



OF THE 



EIGHTEENTH CENTURY, 



SECTION V. 



MATERIA MEDICA. 



1 HE knowledge of the nomenclature, the metho- 

 dical arrangement;, and especially of the virtues of 

 those substances which are employed either for 

 nutriment or the cure, of diseases, must be consi- 

 dere(i as forming a very important branch of medi- 

 cine. Accordingly it has received much of the at- 

 tention of physicians in all ages. But in no period 

 of equal length have inquiries on this subject been 

 pursued with so mucli accuracy and success, or the 

 discoveries and improvements been so numerous, 

 as during the century under review. Many new 

 articles, in this period, have been added to the for- 

 mer catalogues^ the properties of articles^ formerly 

 knoAvn and employed have become better under- 

 stood than before j the application of old remedies 

 Vol. ir. B 



