REVIEW. 
723 
“III.— Remedies. —If a remedy does not act at once, the attendant 
should not despair. Some diseases do not yield until the remedy has 
been given several times in succession. If the attendant is satisfied, 
however, that he has taken every precaution in accurately diagnosing 
the disease, and in selecting the. appropriate remedy, he must persevere 
in its administration ; and success in most instances where cure is 
possible will reward his perseverance. In chronic diseases a beneficial 
result can seldom be observed for several days, or even longer; while 
in acute diseases, as in inflammation of the bowels, relief is sometimes 
speedily obtained. Where, however, a beneficial result is not obtained 
in acute and sub-acute maladies in the course of six or eight hours, the 
symptoms must again be carefully gone over, and a new remedy se¬ 
lected, which must be given either alone or in alternation with the 
old one, and its use steadily persevered in. 
“IV.— Amendment of Patient. —If a remedy be administered to a 
diseased patient, and amendment follows, which is sudden, or slow, as 
the case may be, but nevertheless well marked, either give the remedy 
less frequently or in less quantity, or do both : which of the three 
courses to adopt will depend upon the judicious management of the 
attendant. It not unfrequently happens, however, that the following 
will take place :—The patient will improve to a certain degree, when 
the improvement will stop. In all such cases the patient must again 
be examined with every care, and another and more appropriate remedy 
selected. 
“ V.— Repetition of Medicines. —The repetition of medicines will 
depend upon a variety of circumstances, respecting which no definite 
rule can be laid down. In very acute cases it may be necessary to 
repeat the medicine every ten or fifteen minutes; in sub-acute diseases 
every hour, or every four hours, or every twelve hours, as the case may 
be; while in chronic diseases an interval of twenty-four hours may be 
allowed to elapse between its repetition. This, like many other things 
of a similar nature, will depend upon the experience and judgment of 
the attendant. I say to him, however, give the medicine time,—let him 
learn to wait for its effects. 
“ VI.— Medicine in Chronic Disease. —In all cases of a chronic 
nature, administer the remedies to the patients after they have fasted 
for some time ; then let them remain without food for a short time. 
Thus we close our review of Mr. Haycock’s work. While 
we have not given to it, and cannot, our unqualified approval, 
for reasons assigned, yet do we think that there is much in 
it that will well repay an attentive perusal. 
We had marked several other sections for comment, but 
want of space prevents our entering upon them. 
merely of spirits of wine and the juice of the plant whose name the 
medicine bears. Tincture of nux vomica is an example of the kind. 
Other medicines, again, are made by mixing two together. Tincture 
of the muriate of iron is an example of this nature ; it is composed of 
iron and muriatic acid. But muriate of iron I class as a simple medicine ; 
but if the tincture of nux vomica was mixed with the latter, I should 
call the result a compound medicine, and reject it accordingly. If it 
was necessary for a patient to have both, I should give them alternately, 
allowing intervals of some hours, or perhaps a day to intervene, between 
the giving of one medicine and the other.” 
