8 
ON THERAPEUTICS. 
seems like an interference with the liberty of the subject. We 
beg, however, to disclaim any such intention; the man who 
indulges in the pleasures of an elaborate 66 cuisine,” may 
oppose the “ bane” of to-night by the (< antidote” of to¬ 
morrow morning, in the form of the Seidlitz powder or the 
antibilious pill. If, in his view of life, (i the bane and anti¬ 
dote are both before him/ 5 by all means let him, the reason¬ 
ing being, the voluntary agent, make his choice, but let us 
not thrust his system upon our animals, who have no choice 
but to submit. The convictions we have advanced have been 
deliberately formed. If they seem to some crude or violent, 
we shall regret it; but, at the same time, we cannot help 
that our idiosyncrasies permit us to contemplate with com¬ 
placency a state of society when “ Old Parr shall be for¬ 
gotten, and Morrison’s pills unknown.” 
STIMULANTS. 
Stimulant medicines are those which produce general ex¬ 
cessive action. The various agents have an influence upon 
the nervous system so decided that excitement follows imme¬ 
diately upon their introduction into the system; the effects 
will be proportioned to the amount or activity of the agents 
used, and to the susceptibility of the system. Animals that are 
suffering from debility are particularly affected by stimulants, 
although in extreme exhaustion large doses are required to 
produce any action at all. Primarily, stimulants excite the 
nervous functions, particularly the reflex ; consequently, the 
various organs under the influence of this system are mark¬ 
edly affected ; thus, secretion, circulation, nutrition, and even 
volition, are rendered active. The secondary consequences of 
excitement we have already alluded to. Those consequences 
occur without any reference to the causes of the excitement; 
in proportion, therefore, to the amount of stimulation will be 
the amount of depression. In discussing purgative action, 
we had occasion to protest against the full development of 
the properties possessed by the different drugs; the same re¬ 
striction we impose upon the exhibition of stimulants; for 
however valuable as therapeutic agents, when administered ju¬ 
diciously, their full action is seldom or never desirable. Very 
large doses, indeed, seem to produce opposite effects, causing 
unconsciousness, and even death from “coma.” 
The drugs possessing the property of stimulating or ex¬ 
citing are sufficiently numerous; and, although united in 
