INTRODUCTORY LBCTURE. 
9 
means requisite to counteract their efforts ; and in organic bo- 
dies there are certain proximate principles whose properties 
and relations are intimately connected with Pharmacy. From 
this sketch, slight as it is, it will be apparent that your atten- 
tion will be limited to a consideration of those bodies"simply, 
which, in some form, are connected with your particular pro- 
fession. None but such can be described or discussed, how- 
ever interesting the relation of others may be. The time al- 
lowed for the former class is even too brief to do them full 
justice, and will scarcely permit any especial devotion of it to 
processes and manipulations 3trictly pharmaceutical and wor 
thy particular study. All that can be introduced on these to- 
pics must attach incidentally to the bodies which are liable 
to be the subjects of them. To show the importance of these 
processes, and the need for instruction in regard to them, it is 
only necessary to enumerate distillation, the preparation of 
extracts, plasters, separation of proximate vegetable principles, 
and some of the manipulations employed in ordinary analysis. 
This is what, upon careful reflection, has been considered 
Pharmaceutic Chemistry: the examination and description 
of the chemical properties and relations of all substances em- 
ployed in medicine; the study and application of such chemi- 
cal operations as are used in the production of compounds, or 
needed for the separation of proximate principles. The con- 
struction which has been put upon the term Pharmaceutic Che- 
mistry, and the plan of education here been based upon that con- 
struction, is thought to be entirely within the meaning and de- 
sign of the founders of the College and the wants of the student. 
It is believed that no undue importance has been given to any 
portion of the subject, as just announced ; nor has any matter 
of high interest been either suppressed altogether, or con- 
signed to a subordinate position. 
It seems scarcely necessary to state, in particular detail, the 
exact mode in which the principles here laid down will be car- 
ried out. Suffice it to say, that every effort and means of illus- 
tration, at all attainable, will be employed; and the chemical 
operations witnessed in the daily duties of the shop will be 
VOL. VIII. — no. i. 2 
