MATERIA 
different as possible, as founded upon some 
supposed superior advantage, or even the 
mere fancy of the author himself. The 
most simple arrangement is that of an al- 
phabetic foiTO, and it has taken place in 
most of tlie dispensatories and pharmaco- 
poeias of modern times ; but it conveys no 
practical information, indicates no specific 
virtue, communicates no scale of compara- 
tive power. Another arrangement is that 
founded upon the quarter or kingdom from 
which the material is derived ; and of 
course under this system the jMateria Me- 
dica is divided into the three grand classes 
of animal, vegetable, and mineral sub- 
stances. Yet this arrangement does not ap- 
pear to be of much more advantage than 
the preceding ; the plan is even less simple, 
and the knowledge it communicates is too 
trivial to be of any itnportance. Another, 
therefore, and a better distribution is found- 
ed upon the sensible and more obvious qua- 
lities of the substances employed in medi- 
cine ; from their being acid, absorbent, 
glutinorts, unctuous, astringent, saccharine, 
acrid, aromatic, bitter, emetic or cathartic. 
For this classification we are indebted to 
Cartheiiser ; it is highly ingenious, and so 
for as it is applicable, of considerable uti- 
lity. But it labours under the defect of 
being incapable of general application. 
There are many simples, for example, 
and those even of great power and activity, 
in wliich we caii distingui-ii no predominant 
sensible quality ; there are many, again, in 
which various qualities are so equally 
united, that they have just the same claim to 
a position under one class or order as under 
another ; and there are many, also, which 
though similar in their sensible qualities, are 
very dissimilar in their effects upon tlie ani- 
mal frame, : thus, though gentian and aloes 
agree in possessing a bitter taste, and sugar 
and manna in being sweet, their medical 
virtues are widely different. Accordingly 
Cartheuser himself is compelled to deviate 
occasionally from his pneral plan, and to 
found a part of his division on the medicinai 
effects of his materials ; introducing not only 
a class of purgatives and emetics, hut ofva- 
porose inebriants and narcotics j under 
wliicli last class he arranges tobacco, elder- 
flower, saffron, opium, and poppy-seeds, 
substances, certainly, very discordant in all 
the qualities that relate to medicinal inten- 
tions. 
The last division we shall notice is that of 
Vogel, who has classified his materials ac- 
cording to tlieir efltects on the human body. 
MEDICA. 
Some arc found to have the property of ren- 
dering the solid parts of the frame more lax 
than before, and are hence denominated re- 
laxing medicines ; others possess a directly 
contraiy power, and are consequently called 
indurating medicines. A third kind are 
found to excite inflammation in the part to 
which they are applied, and are therefore 
named inflammatory ; while a fourth from 
being perceived to increase or diminish the 
vigour of the body, or what is called the 
tone of the solids, have acquired the name of 
tonics in the first instance, and sedatives in 
the second. Some, again, are conjectured 
neither remarkably to increase, nor dimi- 
nish tlie tone of the solids ; but to perform 
their office either by correcting some mor- 
bid matter in the body, or by evacuating it ; 
in the former case they are called alterants, 
in thelatter evacuants. 
These are the general divisions or classes 
into which simple medicines are partitioned 
under this system ; but when we begin to 
consider their virtues more particularly, a 
variety of inferior divisions must necessaiily 
ensue. Tims, of the relaxing medicines, 
some, when externally applied, are sup- 
posed merely to soften the part ; and in 
such case are called emollients ; while otiiers 
which are supposed to have a power of aug- 
menting the disposition of the secerneiits of 
an inflamed part to the secretion of pus, 
are called maturants or suppuratives. Se- 
dative medicines, that have the power of 
assuaging pain, are denominated paregorics j 
if they altogether remove or destroy pain, 
they are called anodynes ; if they take 
off spasm, antispasmodics ; if they produce 
quiet sleep, hypnotics ; if a very deep, 
and unnatural sleep, together with consi- 
derable stupefaction of the senses, narco- 
tics. Tonic medicines, in like manner, ob- 
tain the name of corroboratives, analeptics, 
or nervines, when they sliglitly increase the 
contractile power of the solids ; but of 
astringents or adstringeiits, if they do thisia 
a great degree. Some of this order of me- 
dicines have been supposed to promote the 
growth of flesh, to consolidate wounds, and 
restrain haemorrhages, and hence the names 
of sarcotics and traiimatics, or vulneiaries, 
iiame.s, however, which may well be dis- 
pensed with, as the quality is very question- 
able, and perhaps altogether erroneously 
ascribed. Other astringents, again, are de- 
nominated repellent, discutieiit, stimulant, 
or attractive, according to the respective 
modes by wliich they are conceived to pro- 
duce one common effect. Medicines of 
