ECLECTIC PHARMACY 
329 
"ECLECTIC PHARMACY." 
By Edward Parrish. 
Most of the readers of the Journal, especially those residing 
west of the Alleghenies, are aware that among the productions of 
the Nineteenth Century, is a certain class of medical philoso- 
phers yclept " Eclectic " or "Reformed" practitioners. The 
head-quarters of this sect appears to be in Cincinnati, where they 
have their principal school, and where also is published the 
" Eclectic Medical Journal," a monthly periodical of considera- 
ble pretensions, edited by Dr. Joseph R. Buchanan and Dr. T. 
V. Morrow, both professors, and Dr. David Shepard, " Corres- 
ponding Homoeopathic Editor." 
In the said Journal,* is an article entitled Eclectic Pharmacy, 
by W. S. Merrill, A. M. My attention was directed to this 
some months since, by a gentleman who desired me to prepare 
for him some concentrated preparations spoken of therein. 
The author of the essay referred to, claims to be the discoverer 
of certain active resinoid principles, to a description of which, 
their mode of preparation, &c, the article is devoted. 
They are obtained from the roots of Podophyllum peltatum, 
Cimicifuga racemosa, Sanguinaria canadensis, Leptandra vir- 
ginica, Iris versicolor, and certain other roots, which are little 
used by regular practitioners. 
This author proposes to call these principles by the generic 
name of the plant from which they are derived, with the termi- 
nation m, resembling that of Resin, as in the case of the alkaloids 
the termination ia is adopted, resembling that of the alkalis 
proper. 
This arrangement proposed by the writer as though original 
with himself, is in fact that adopted long since in standard works, 
and if followed by all writers and experimenters would be pro- 
ductive of great advantage. Upon this plan Jalapin, Piperin, 
Santonin, and many similar principles, are named, but in each 
case the name is applied to the resin in a state of purity. 
The claim set up by this "Eclectic Pharmaceutist," that he is the 
discoverer of these resinoid principles, is the most curious feature 
*Vol. II. No. 7, July 1850. 
26* 
