190 
EDITORIAL. 
this  new  contribution  to  the  medical  literature  of  the  United  States,  has  sue- 
ceeded  in  throwing  more  light  on  the  important,  but  difficult  and  too  often 
obscure,  subject  of  the  real  action  of  medicines  after  ingestion;  and 
whether  his  views  of  their  real  curative  powers,  as  expressed  in  the  testi- 
mony he  has  adduced  in  their  favor  or  against  them,  accords  with  the  ex- 
perience of  others.  Viewing  the  work  with  a  pharmaceutist's  eye  and  judg- 
ment, we  at  first  felt  disposed  to  express  the  disappointment  in  which  our 
examination  had  resulted,  on  finding  that  the  author,  on  treating  a  subject 
which  claims  the  aid  of  pharmacy  at  every  step,  should  have  so  imperfectly 
represented  the  valuable  influence  it  contributes  in  the  successful  prescrip- 
tion of  medicines,  as  to  leave  untold  so  much  that  is  important  in  officinal  as 
well  as  in  extemporaneous  pharmacy.  For  instance,  the  art  of  prescrib- 
ing medicines  involves  not  only  their  adaptation  to  the  disease  treated, 
and  to  the  particular  condition  of  the  patient  at  the  time,  as  the  author  has 
well  said ;  but  also  their  compatible  association,  in  the  most  eligible  and 
least  repugnant  form.  The  best  remedies  often  prove  useless  from  the 
nausea  they  excite,  and  it  certainly  is  an  important,  though  not  generally 
practised,  part  of  the  therapeutist's  duty,  to  point  out  the  most  ele- 
gant and  appropriate  form  for  the  extemporaneous  or  permanent  associ- 
ation of  drugs.  The  skilful  Apothecary  might  often  modify  advantage- 
ously, the  physical  condition  and  sensible  properties  of  the  medicines  he 
dispenses  by  prescription,  were  it  safe  and  proper  for  him  to  assume  the 
responsibility,  which  it  is  not; — and  perhaps  the  knowledge  to  which  we 
allude  belongs  more  to  pharmacy  than  to  therapeutics ;  yet  we  believe  it  may 
properly  enter  into  a  work  of  the  character  of  the  present,  and  would 
greatly  aid  in  improving  the  "  art  of  writing  prescriptions"  as  practised  by 
many  Physicians.  But,  on  further  reflection,  we  believe,  that  in  taking 
this  course  the  author  preferred  to  refer  his  readers  to  the  special  treatises, 
rather  than  to  enter  on  practical  details,  to  elucidate  which  success- 
fully would  have  involved  a  familiarity  with  the  operations  of  practi- 
cal pharmacy.  For  this  reason  we  withhold  any  criticism  in  this  direction, 
to  which  the  work  may  be  obnoxious,  and  with  a  firm  conviction  of  the 
honest  purpose  of  the  author,  and  a  high  estimate  of  the  learning  and 
ability  his  production  manifests,  we  most  cordially  commend  it  to  the 
careful  perusal  of  our  medical  brethren. 
We  had  almost  forgotten  to  say,  that  in  point  of  mechanical  execution 
and  the  evident  care  which  has  marked  its  progress  through  the  press,  the 
work  is  highly  creditable  to  all  concerned. 
Introductory  Lectures  and  Addresses  on  Medical  subjects,  delivered  chiefly 
before  the  Medical  Classes  of  the  University  of  Pennsylvania.   By  George 
B.  Wood,  M.  D.,  LL.  D.,  President  of  the  American  Philosophical  So- 
ciety, &c,  &c.    Philadelphia,  J.  B.  Lippincott  &  Co.  1859.  pp.  460. 
The  author  of  this  volume,  as  his  friends  are  aware,  is  about  to  retire 
from  the  active  duties  of  the  medical  profession,  in  which  he  has  so  long 
i 
