193 
several authors, only from the time of Cullen ; or such 
works, as those of Cottereau, Guibourt, Fee, Richard, Merat 
and De Lens, with Bayle, Barbier, Trousseau and Pidoux, 
Martius, Esenbeck and Ebermeier, Geiger, Gobel and 
Kunze, Brandt and Ratzeburge. 
The difficulties of treating the subject are, however, 
I conceive, considerably increased by the position at present 
occupied by Materia Medica and Therapeutics in the 
prescribed course of Medical Education. Considering that 
these presuppose some knowledge of Natural History and 
Chemistry, as well as of Physiology and Pathology, 
that we may understand the meaning of terms employed 
in description, as well as the Natural classifications in 
which the different substances are arranged ; besides their 
mode of action on the living system, as well as their appli- 
cation as medicines in the treatment of disease ; one would 
not expect to find Materia Medica and Therapeutics placed 
in the first year of the prescribed course of Medical Edu- 
cation ; though, perhaps, it is at present unavoidable, from 
the short time allotted to medical study. The above 
opinion has been already expressed by others, and there- 
fore I myself venture to bring it forward, particularly 
as it has the sanction of a name as high as any in English 
annals, when we consider his triple claim on Literature, 
on Science, and on Medicine. I mean that of the late 
Dr. Young, who, in laying down, in his " Medical Lite- 
rature, 11 what he considered to be the most judicious course 
of Education, defers attendance on a course of Materia 
Medica until the third year of study. The only mode, 
at present practicable, of avoiding the inconveniences of 
bringing forward at once so many points, in connexion 
with each particular subject, is to divide the course into 
two portions ; in the first of which, the several substances 
may be treated of as objects of Natural History ; and in 
2 c 
