operandi of the different elements of each composition. By way of elucidating this plan of teaching the art of prescribing, we shall introduce a few of the Doctor's formulæ.

"Emetic draught.

Take of Ipecacuan Wine, one drachm,
Tartarized Antimony, one grain, B,

Pure Water, an ounce and half, L.-Mix.

"The letter B signifies, that the tartarized antimony is added to the ipecacuan wine, (the base of the composition), to promote its action. L signifies, that the water makes it an eligible form, by which the efficacy of the medicine is enhanced."

Many a practitioner would suppose that the tartarized antimony was the basis of this draught, for no less than four reasons: 1st, because it is the strongest article; 2dly, because if it be necessary to keep in mind the base of a composition, it should be that which is capable of being decomposed; Sdly, because the quantity is sufficient to excite vomiting; and 4thly, because the quantity of ipecacuan wine is much too small to excite vomiting. In our humble opinion, the B. should have been placed opposite the article, ipecacuan wine. The idea that water is capable of "enhancing the efficacy of the medicine," will excite the risible muscles of an apothecary, because he knows, or should know, that ipecacuan wine with emetic tartar, when undiluted, acts more powerfully than when diluted, by irritating the oesophagus. By mechanically irritating this tube, every old woman knows that vomiting may be induced, without introducing a nauseating medicine into the stomach; but Dr. Paris, of course, is not an old woman, even in medicine.

"For Bilious Colic.

Take of Cathartic Extract, one drachm,

Purified Opium, three grains, E,

Oil of Nutmegs, eight drops, D.-Mix, and divide into twelve pills, of which he may take two every hour until two fæcal evacuations are produced.

The base of this prescription is the cathartic extract. E signifies that the purified opium promotes its action by obtaining the joint operation of two or more medicines which have different powers, and which are required to obviate different symptoms, or to answer different indications. The key letter D signifies that the oil of nutmeg corrects the operation of the basis by obviating any unpleasant effects it might be likely to occasion, and which would prevent its intended action, and defeat the objects of its exhibition."!!

Every apothecary, and indeed farrier, knows that opium promotes the operation of a cathartic in cases of spasmodic colic, by allaying spasmodic constriction of the intestines, the cause of the constipation; but as there is always a strong disposition to inflammation in such cases, experienced practitioners generally give the preference to a less stimulating medium than the cathartic extract, for instance, a mixture of castor oil. Now as the Doctor's work is published as a guide for inexperienced practitioners, he should have explained what he or the College understand by bilious cholic (colic). Among old women we may expect to

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5 A

hear of such a species, but a teacher, or a Fellow of the College, should be a little more correct in giving a name to a disease. We know no such disease as bilious cholic, or, bilious colic.

"Cathartic Pills.

Take of Compound Powder of Aloes, one drachm,
Antimonial Powder, five grains, C,

Hard Soap, ten grains, I, L,

Compound Decoction of Aloes, M. b, a sufficient quantity to form a mass.-To be divided into twenty pills.

The base of this composition is the compound powder of aloes. C signifies that the antimonial powder combines the base with substances of a different nature, and which do not exert any chemical influence upon it, but are found by experience, or inferred by analogy, to be capable of rendering the stomach or system more susceptible of its action. IL signify that by the intervention of the soap, which acts chemically, the efficacy of the remedy is enhanced"!! M. b, signify the compound decoction of aloes renders the aspect of the medicine more agreeable, or its mode of administering more convenient!!-The mass is directed to be divided into twenty pills, and two to be taken for a dose, so that of the article which is to render the stomach more susceptible of the action of the compound powder of aloes, the patient will take only half a grain!! An article of which a person may take ten or fifteen grains without producing any sensible effect either on the stomach or bowels; indeed, if any credit is due to Dr. Blundell's experiments with this powder, it may be administered to the extent of two drachms without disordering the stomach or the bowels. The pills, the Doctor terms cathartic, and therefore the action of the article, to promote the cathartic operation, should be more on the intestines than the stomach. A dose of the pills, containing only one grain of soap, we are at a loss how it can possibly enhance the efficacy of the medicine, or act chemically. Such is College consistency. How two or three drops of the compound decoction of aloes, of which the dose is a wine-glass full, can render the aspect of the composition more agreeable, or its mode of administration more convenient, we are at a loss to conjecture, unless it is by forming a mass, and for this purpose water would answer as well. These specimens, fully explain the Doctor's scientific mode of instructing inexperienced practitioners to prescribe. Ridiculous and contemptible as the plan must appear to be to our medical readers, the Doctor asserts, that he has delivered a lecture on the subject at the College of Physicians, for the edification (amusement, we presume) of the members of that learned institution!!! The following mixture the learned physician denominates expectorant and antispasmodic, and recommends for the hooping-cough:

"Take of Mixture of Gum Ammoniac and Cinnamon Water, an
ounce and a half,

Syrup of Tolu, half an ounce,
Tincture of Castor, two drachms,

of Opium, ten drops.-Mix.-A table

spoonful to be taken now and then; or, occasionally."

The Doctor has learnt that the tincture of castor is an antispasmodic!!

Inexperienced, indeed, must be his readers, to suppose that this contemptible composition possesses the power of allaying spasms. No apothecary who has been in practice one year, or knows any thing of hooping-cough, would administer such a medicine during the first stage of the disease.

A mixture of Muriatic Acid, Barley Water, and Syrup, the Doctor terms a refrigerant, and recommends for "Typhus and other fevers"!!

The following lotion the Doctor terms a refrigerant:

Take of Sal Ammoniac, two drachins,

Acetic Acid, two ounces,

Camphorated Spirit, half an ounce.-Mix."

The effect of this lotion to any part of the body, would be inflammation; and, consequently, instead of being a refrigerant, it is a powerful stimulant. As a considerable portion of the camphor is separated on addition of the acetic acid, many practitioners, or ultra-chemists, or indeed, pseudo-chemists, might deem this prescription unchemical.

Of the Doctor's class of astringents, the following prescription shews his competency to instruct inexperienced practitioners in the art of ‣ prescribing:

"Take of Infusion of Oak Bark, an ounce and a half,

Powdered Galls, ten grains,

Tincture of Catechu, half a drachm,

Compound Tincture of Cardamoms, half a drachm,
Syrup of Orange Peel, half a drachm.-Mix."

The Doctor has omitted to give the name of the disease, to the cure of which this scientific prescription is applicable. The oak bark, although the weakest astringent, is the base!!

The following the learned Doctor terms a tonic and a purgative, and recommends it for indigestion, hysteric fits, and mesenteric obstruction.

"Take of Ammoniated Iron, one drachm,

Extract of Gentian,

Aloes, of each half a drachm.

Mix well together, and divide the mass into thirty pills; two to be taken three times a day."

Indigestion and hysteric fits arise from opposite causes; but, we conceive, in no stage of mesenteric obstruction, or tumefaction of the mesenteric glands, is such a composition proper.

The collection of prescriptions is the most contemptible we have met with in any work, even Marriott's Art of Healing; and the author's explanation of the "modus operandi of the elements of each," the most ridiculous.

Young or "inexperienced practitioners" are generally deficient in the art of prescribing, and a scientific work on this subject is much wanted. The best guides, in our opinion, are the cause, the symptoms, general health, and peculiarity of constitution of the patient. The treatment of all diseases must be regulated by the state of the general health of the patient. For instance, in indigestion, arising from debility, with the view of quieting the stomach, or increasing its tone, we would order an infusion of cascarilla (seven ounces); to this we would add

such articles as the symptoms may indicate; for instance, if the patient complains of heartburn, we would add carbonate of soda (three drachms); if flatulence, we would add an aromatic, as the compound tincture of cardamoms (one ounce); and in case of spasms in the stomach or bowels, or general irritability or restlessness during night, we would add twenty grains of the extract of henbane. If the kidneys do not perform their office, we would employ a diuretic aromatic, in lieu of the compound tincture of cardamoms, as the compound spirit of juniper (an ounce and a half). If the bowels are disposed to constipation, we would prescribe extract of rhubarb; or in case of their being too open, we would employ lime-water, in lieu of the carbonate of soda and infusion of cascarilla, and as a tonic, we would add a drachm of the extract of rhatany. If any visceral obstruction exists, the blue pill will also be necessary; and in case of any internal local irritation, an external irritating plaster. Disease is a combination of symptoms, the violence and number of which often depend on the state of the system. Some symptoms may be termed pathognomonic, or characteristic of the disease, and others constitutional or idiosyncratic, arising from some peculiarity. There are generally sympathetic affections, arising from an extension of the disease or its operation on the constitution, which are too commonly considered by a certain class of physicians, or rather pseudo-physicians, symptomatic. The most judicious mode of prescribing is, in our humble opinion, to form a combination which the causes, symptoms, sympathies, and general state of the body and habits may indicate. A disease is, in fact, a compound, differing in different constitutions, and the composition of the remedy should be adapted to it. A remedy which has evinced a specific effect in a disease, may, in the same malady, in an opposite state of system, or from some peculiarity of constitution, prove highly injurious. The plan of instruction of inexperienced practitioners, adopted by Dr. Paris, is, therefore, a bad one. The system reminds us of the celebrated fable of the blind leading the blind.

We hope the learned author will pardon us for not devoting more of this number to his labours. In our next we shall conclude our notice of his miserable production.

IODINE. Dr. Gamelle, first assistant surgeon of the Military Hospital of the Royal Guards, at Paris, has published, in the Bulletin of the Medical Society of Emulation, the history of several cases of wen, and a few of scrofulous eruptions, in which he administered the iodine with complete success. Dr. Pellier has given the solution of the iodine in alcohol (the tincture) an extensive trial in scrofula, the results of which have satisfied him that it is the only medicine that has been discovered, capable of correcting or acting specifically on scrofula. This physician states, that its peculiar property is destroyed by the combination with potass, as recommended by Sir A. Halliday; and that when thus combined, it possesses no medicinal property superior to common culinary salt, which it greatly resembles in taste. He has employed externally an ointment of iodine, in cases of scrofulous enlargement of glands and joints, with friction, in the same manner as mercurial ointment is used in this country, with evident advantage.

From the uniform beneficial effects of the internal use of the tinctare

of iodine, we have no hesitation in attributing to it an antiscrofulous property. We shall at present briefly notice three cases in which it has succeeded.

Master W. aged 18, had been afflicted for eighteen months with enlargement of the glands of the neck: a tumour evidently scrofulous formed on his right hand, which suppurated, and left a scrofulous ulcer. The lymphatics to the arm-pit inflamed, and on the upper arm several ulcerations followed. He had been subject to chronic inflammation of the eyes and eyelids. After taking the tincture of iodine, in the dose of twenty drops, twice a day, in marshmallow root decoction, the ulcers began to lose their scrofulous character, the tumours of the neck lost their tenderness, and became more soft, and the inflammation of the eyes and eyelids had nearly subsided. At the end of six weeks, during which time he took the remedy regularly twice a day, he was perfectly free from any symptom of the disease. The remedy was continued some weeks longer, with the view of destroying any predisposition to the disease that might remain in the system.

J. H. Esq. aged 45, had been afflicted with scrofula many years, for which he had taken several remedies, and tried sea air, without any beneficial effect. At the time he commenced the use of the tincture of iodine, he had several ulcerations from suppurated glands, a scrofulous enlargement of the left knee and of the right elbow. The affection of the joints was very painful. After taking thirty drops of the tincture twice a day, in a wine-glass full of the decoction of marshmallow root, the pain of the joints ceased, the discharge from the ulcerations became more healthy, and his general health improved. A diarrhoea coming on, he discontinued the remedy for ten days, during the last five of which the pains in the joints returned, the discharge of the ulcers became thinner, and the glandular tumours inflamed. He then reassumed the remedy, and after continuing it two months, was perfectly well.

Miss G- aged 12, had been afflicted with scrofulous inflammation of the eyes for six months, and enlargement of the glands of the neck twelve months. After taking twenty drops of the tincture of iodine, twice a day, for a week, the inflammation considerably abated, and in three weeks it terminated, and in four more the swellings entirely subsided.

These cases we select from about thirty-five, which have occurred in our practice, since the introduction of the iodine, in all of which it succeeded without the use of any other auxiliary than the decoction of marshmallow root. The patients, having lived abstemiously, no alteration in their diet was made, except in the case of J. H. Esq. who adopted the use of the composition of British herbs, noticed in a former number, in lieu of foreign tea and coffee.

The reports of the effects of tincture of iodine we have received from Liverpool, Dublin, Edinburgh, and York, are highly in favour of its antiscrofulous property. In the case of a young woman of plethoric habit of body, it manifested no beneficial effect, till her system had been reduced by two copious bleedings.

DIFFICULT PARTURITION.-The Medico-Chirurgical Society of London has published a very interesting case of separation of