AmAJp0r,?1r;Sarm-}  A  Symposium.  189 
acter  and  composition  of  medicinal  substances;  pharmacology  com- 
prising, in  addition  to  this,  also  therapeutics." 
Of  German  authorities,  Theo.  Husemann  (Gottingen)  "  Gesammte 
Arzneimittellehre  "  makes  the  following  classification: 
PHARMACOLOGY  ARZNEIMITTELLEHRE. 
(1)  Pharmacognosy — Drogenwaaren  Kunde. 
(2)  Pnarmaceutical  chemistry. 
(3)  Pharmacodynamics — action  on  normal  organism. 
(4)  Therapy — action  on  abnormal  organism. 
(5)  Compounding — Recepture-Kunst. 
(6)  Dosage — posology. 
From  these  considerations,  I  would  formulate  the  definitions  as 
follows : 
Pharmacology — the  science  of  medicinal  agents — material  or  pon- 
derable. 
Comprising  these  divisions : 
Materia  Medica.  Organic.  Inorganic. 
Derivation.  Pharmacognosy.  Chemistry. 
Character.  (  Physics.  " 
Properties.  ( Chemistry.  " 
Pharmacodynamics — toxicology,  action  and  force  of  substances 
on  living  organism  in  normal  state — health. 
Therapeutics — action  on  abnormal  living  organism  in  disease ; 
also  comprises  "  immateria  medica." 
Pharmacy — preparation  and  compounding  ;  really  comprises  all 
but  pharmacodynamics  ;  incidentally,  therapeutics,  to  "  serve  "  bet- 
ter "  forms  "  of  pharmaceutic  agents. 
I  am  especially  interested  in  the  effort  to  secure  an  intelligent 
understanding  of  these  terms,  since  if  the  proposed  definition  of 
pharmacology  were  generally  accepted,  it  could  advantageously 
supersede  the  present  unwieldy  title  of  the  Section  on  Materia 
Medica,  Pharmacy  and  Therapeutics  of  the  American  Medical 
Association.  Fraternally, 
Carl  S.  N.  Hallberg,  Ph.G.,  M.D. 
Chicago,  Iu,.,  February  16,  1904. 
Dear  Professor  Kraemer : 
I  have  had  it  in  mind  to  comply  with  a  request  received  from  you 
some  time  ago  for  my  understanding  of  certain  words.    What  I 
