388 
PHARMAGECTICAL MEETING, EDINBUllGII. 
posite tincture of the British Pharmacopceia consists only of six ingredients, including 
the vehicle, and of the remaining fifty-tive, twelve only contain more than one sub¬ 
stance, and these seldom more than two or three. The most composite preparation 
of the British Pharmacopceia is compound decoction of aloes, which consists of eleven 
ingredients, including the constituents of the compound tincture of cardamoms. 
This is professedly an analytical, not a critical review of the Codex ; but, even in 
going through it for the first time, these huge accumulations of medicines force them¬ 
selves into notice. Another example of this polypharmacy is seen in the Baume Tran- 
quille, which is placed amongst medicated oils. It consists of nineteen ingredients,— 
n.amely, the fresh leaves of belladonna, hyoscyaraus, Solamim mgrum, tobacco, white 
poppy, and stramonium ; dried leaves of balsamita, rosemary, rue, and sage ; dried tops 
of absinthium, hyssop, marjoram, peppermint, perforated St. John’s wort, and thyme ; 
flowers of lavender and elder, and olive oil. 1 was curious enough to turn up one or 
two French authorities, to rind out the estimation in which this soothing compound is 
held therapeutically ; and perhaps the keenest criticism that it could be subjected to 
lies in the commentary upon it by Bouchardat—himself one of the compilers of the 
Codex. He says that “ it is frequently employed for the purpose of calmative friction 
but, he adds, “ I prefer a solution of atropine in chloroform,”—certainly a wonderful 
simplification. That we may run to an opposite extreme, however, and one that might 
be equally regretted, is quite true; some compound medicines are, doubtless, of great 
value, but many of the formulee of the Codex are still rather ponderous. Take another 
example from the “ Species,” the Especes Vulncraires, or Swiss tea, Thea Helvetica; it 
consists of the leaves and tops of seventeen plants (chiefly labiates), and the flowers of 
three more,—in all twenty ingredients, exclusive of the vehicle. Like its namesake, the 
tincture, it belongs to the class of carminatives and moderate stimulants. 
But the chief offender in this respect is the old T’Aerfaca, which still retains its place 
in the Codex, in the midst of the chapter on Electuaries, Confections, and Opiates. If 
the claims of ancestry have any weight in the preservation of a place in the Codex, then 
Theriaca is justly retained, for it belongs to an old family, of which Mithridatium^ 
Dioscordium, Philonium, Orvietanum, and Requies Nicolai, ammngst others, are long- 
forgotten members. Perhaps I should except Dioscordium from the list of relicts, as it 
still occupies, in a modified form, a place in the Codex. Not only amongst the ancients^ 
however, from whom these formulae have had their traditional descent, but even in 
modern Europe have such modes of polypharmacy had their origin, for some of Hux- 
ham’s prescriptions may still be seen which contain above a hundred ingredients. I 
should be truly sorry by a single word to hasten the departure of any valuable medicine, 
however composite or nauseous it may be, and still more so to bring about that highly 
objectionable state of matters anticipated by Sir Alexander Crichton, “when modern 
pharmacopoeias are shorn so much of old and approved receipts, on account of their 
being extraordinary compounds, as to be almost useless in some cases.” On the con¬ 
trary, let me try to preserve the ancient remedy by giving It once more a local habita- 
tioH and a name in English literature. Let me say, before reproducing the formula, 
however, that I doubt whether this is the real theriaca, as at first prescribed by Andro- 
machus, Nero’s physician. I have seen several formulas for its preparation, differing widely 
in the number of their ingredients. According to Spielmann, that which was left by 
Galen consisted of sixty-rive ingredients; another, I know^, consists of not less than 
seventy-two. Formerly the preparation of theriaca was confined to Venice, a monopoly 
from whence all Europe was supplied ; but now it may be prepared by any pharmaceu¬ 
tist, unless, perhaps, at Madrid, where not many years ago the College of Physicians 
in full conclave alone was allowed to make it. Should any of our young friends here 
this evening wish to try his hand at it, let him begin with the formula of the Codex, 
namely:— 
Grammes. 
Grammes. 
Root of 
Ginger. 
... 60 
Root of Gentian. 
)) 
Florentine Iris . . 
... 60 
„ Meum athamanticam 
. . 20 
?? 
Officinal Valerian . 
... 60 
„ Aristolochia Clematitis 
. . 10 
?? 
Celtic Valerian . . 
... 20 
„ Asarabacca .... 
. . 10 
Sweet Sedge . . . 
... 36 
Aloes Wood. 
. . 10 
n 
Potentilla reptans . 
... 30 
Cinnamon. 
. . ICO 
Rhapontic Rhubarb 
... 30 
Dried Squill Scales .... 
. . CO 
