542 
EDITORIAL. 
examine  interesting  objects  at  the  place  of  meeting,  but  fully  digest  the 
business  that  calls  us  together  before  parting  for  our  homes.  But  we  cannot 
pass  from  the  subject  without  expressing  the  great  gratification  which,  in 
common  with  a  large  number  of  other  Members,  we  derived  from  the  ex- 
cursion to  Mill  Creek  Valley,  and  the  noble  Institution  for  the  Insane  un- 
der the  care  of  Dr.  0.  M.  Langdon,  as  referred  to  by  the  resolution  at 
page  494.  The  autumnal  tinting  of  the  foliage  had  progressed  sufficiently 
to  add  its  peculiar  beauty  to  the  landscape,  whilst  the  succession  of  beau- 
tiful villas  and  cottages,  which  decorated  every  prominent  point,  added 
much  to  the  interest  of  the  varying  scene.  The  principal  cemetery  of 
Cincinnati  was  passed  on  the  route,  but  time  did  not  permit  the  excur- 
sionists to  enter  its  gate  and  avenues,  although  such  had  been  part  of 
the  programme.  Many  thanks  to  the  Cincinnati  College  for  the  pleasant 
reminiscences  that  cling  to  this  episode  of  the  meeting. 
Therapeutics  and  Materia  Medica ;  a  systematic  treatise  on  the  action  and 
uses  of  medicinal  agents,  including  their  description  and  history.  By 
Alfred  Stelle,  M.  D.,  Professor  of  the  theory  and  practice  of  medicine 
in  the  University  of  Pennsylvania,  &c,  &c,  &o.  Second  edition,,  re- 
vised and  enlarged,  in  two  volumes.  Philadelphia,  Blanchard  and  Lea, 
1864,  pp.  1595,  octavo. 
In  March,  1860,  on  the  appearance  of  the  first  edition  of  this  work,  we 
gave  the  result  of  an  examination  of  its  pages.  In  again  looking  over 
this  new  edition,  we  find  no  alterations  in  the  plan  of  the  work, 
or  in  the  details  of  its  execution,  which  cause  us  to  change  the  opinion 
then  arrived  at,  that  it  is  mainly  therapeutical  as  a  treatise,  and  that 
Materia  Medica  and  Pharmacy  are  dwelt  upon  only  so  far  as  will  give  the 
student  and  practitioner  a  general  idea  of  the  sources,  characters  and 
history  of  drugs,  and  a  bird's  eye  view  of  the  pharmaceutical  prepara- 
tions. Yet  in  each  of  these  departments  there  are  some  exceptions  where 
the  author  has  entered  more  fully  either  into  their  history  or  pharmacy 
than  comports  with  the  general  plan.  The  arrangement  of  the  work  is 
therapeutical,  and  its  great  value  consists  in  its  thoroughness  as  an  expo- 
sition of  the  present  state  of  this  important  branch  of  medicine.  The 
author  differs  in  his  manner  of  treating  the  subject  from  many,  carefully 
bringing  out  the  views  of  the  observers  and  authors  whose  works  he  con- 
sults, whilst  this  own  views  are  kept  so  out  of  sight  that  it  is  not  easy  to 
obtain  his  own  opinion  of  the  value  of  a  medicine.  Where  a  favorable 
opinion  of  the  ability  of  an  author  is  held,  it  is  satisfactory  to  know  just 
what  he  thinks  of,  or  what  is  his  estimate  of  the  curative  power  of  a  drug 
based  upon  his  own  observation  and  experience  of  facts  which  are  patent  to 
his  own  practice.  Should  Dr.  Stille  give  a  little  more  prominence  to  his 
own  results  and  opinions  in  future  editions,  we  doubt  not  his  readers  will 
be  increasingly  satisfied  with  his  valuable  pages. 
Leaving  for  the  medical  journals  the  therapeutical  part  of  these  books, 
we  have  hastily  glanced  over  the  pages  in  view  of  their  pharmacological 
