224: 
T. W. TURNER. 
» __ . . 
of the laboratory. The former have in general a very com¬ 
plicated composition, and possess several active principles, 
while chemical compounds have a more simple composition, 
owing to which a more specific physiological action is pro¬ 
duced, nor does any undesirable additional activity arise. 
This overcrowding of the pharmacopoeia with new remedies, 
the topical result of the rapid progress in chemistry, though 
based on scientific principles, has without doubt its disad¬ 
vantages. The remedies are examined only by a few inves¬ 
tigators, and therefore fail to be sufficiently known in regard 
to their therapeutical value, and especially to their physiolog¬ 
ical action. 
As soon as the real character of the remedy is partially 
ascertained, new ones appear, seemingly more valuable, and 
those of yesterday are cast aside before they have been put 
fully to the test. 
This constant experimenting can hardly be of much ben¬ 
efit to the progress of sound medicine, since it leads to super¬ 
ficial and partially established results. In view of this love 
of innovation of the present day, the words of Dr. Hufeland, 
in his work “ How to Prolong the Human Life,” ought to be 
well and deeply pondered. He says : “ Every sickness is 
attended with irritation and loss of power. If a remedy influ¬ 
ences bodily conditions more than the disease itself, we cer¬ 
tainly have restored the patient to health, but he has been 
more weakened through the process of recovery than he 
would have been through the action of the disease alone. 
This is the case nearly always if, in trifling cases, the most 
powerful and heroic remedies are employed. Diseases may 
be treated according to different methods and principles. 
These different methods may all bring a patient back to 
health ; but as regards the prolongation of life, they may be 
of very different degrees of value. The longer it takes a 
remedy to effect a cure, the lower the vitality of the system 
sinks, the more are the powers of the body enfeebled, and the 
hopes of prolonged life are diminished in proportion to this 
therapeutic inertia. If, on the other hand, the digestive 
organs, for instance, are the seat of disease and become 
