ON THERAPEUTICS. 
G57 
are not capable of assimilation, still require a certain time for 
their effects to become apparent, because acting as they do, 
by mere contact, certain changes must be induced in the rate 
or amount of circulation, or in the composition of the texture 
before the specific action is obtained. Thirdly, a division of 
the agent must be effected by mechanical means before ad¬ 
ministration ; particularly is this necessary, where the drug 
is only partially or not at all soluble. Trituration, or mixture 
with something to increase the solubility, or its solution, are 
means by which substances are minutely divided. Considering 
how much the action is facilitated by the careful preparation 
of the drug, it becomes a question whether it is not often ad¬ 
visable to follow the homoeopathic plan of successive tri¬ 
turations, in respect more especially to insoluble medicines, as 
sulphur, carbonate of lime, and many others, whose solution 
occupies time. A very simple plan would suffice : the agent 
should first be reduced to the finest powder, then mixed with 
equal parts of sugar of milk, and triturated again ; portions 
of this might be mixed equally with the sugar of milk, and 
triturated again ; the process repeated for three times would 
occupy very little time, and would, we believe, much enhance 
the value of the drug. The three triturations would of course 
be designated ; first, second, and third, and either may be used, 
as a powerful or moderate effect should be desired. We have 
followed this plan in preparing medicines for small animals, 
with results that justify our recommendation. Fourthly, the 
proper development of medicinal action requires that no 
opposing influences should be present. Such influences are 
found in the peculiarities of constitution, which oppose them¬ 
selves to the action of certain agents; and this sometimes so 
completely as to render the agents altogether inert. They 
are found in the food, sufficiently to modify medicinal effects. 
This position is clear if we remember the presence of alkalies, 
of astringents, and of laxatives among the articles of diet. 
Not probably in sufficient quantities to produce very decided 
effects, but enough to interfere with the action of medicines 
of an opposite tendency; for example, the action of an 
astringent would be modified by the presence of purgative 
substances in the food, as linseed, or even bran. In man, 
whose diet includes so many substances of a decidedly stimu¬ 
lant, narcotic, or sedative action, the illustrations might be in¬ 
definitely multiplied. They are also found in the ordinary posi¬ 
tion of the animal; in the temperature of the atmosphere, with 
itsinfluence upon the surface of the body; in the various matters 
mixed with the air of the place in which he may be confined; 
and in the amount of exertion which his daily duties may 
