The newer pharmacology and its relationship to ancient medicine / by Bernard E. Read.

  • B. E. Read
Date:
[1934]
Catalogue details

Licence: In copyright

Credit: The newer pharmacology and its relationship to ancient medicine / by Bernard E. Read. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    Trans. Ninth Congress Far lEast. Assoc. Trop. Med., Nanking, 193Ji,, 2, pp. 627-638 THE NEWER PHARMACOLOGY AND ITS RELA¬ TIONSHIP TO ANCIENT MEDICINE By Bernard E. Read, ph.d., m.s. Division of Physiological Sciences, Henry Lester Institute of Medical Research, Shanghai Former studies upon Ancient Miateria Medica have been confined largely to the following lines of work:— 1. The trial of specifics for various diseases, especially as seen in the Indian field, where Holarrhena, Butea, Alstonia, Adhatoda, Melia etc., %ave received widespread attention. 2. The search for new active principles, especially neuro- tropic drugs of alkaloidal character, glucosides, tannins etc, such as ephedrine, of great variety as isolated by the plant chemist. 3. New sources of therapeutic agents of proven value, such as the various solanaceous plants used in the preparation of atro¬ pine, and new sources of santonin, ephedrine, quinine etc. 4. The finding of allied species of plants of known worth, such as the various species of hydnocarpus used in the treatment of leprosy, Japanese senega as a substitute for European senega, Japanese belladonna, native orange, gentian and various bitters etc. These earlier studies (Chopra 1933, Kubota et al 1931, Read 1921, 1923,) were based upon ideas in therapeutics which have undergone radical dhanges in this generation. The modem scientific method which has produced these chemical results, has also in the physiological field produced what is almost a therapeutic nihilism, compelling the physician to review, adjust or entirely alter his attitude to old therapeutic methods. This change has brought a desire for a better physiological viewpoint in treatment so that instead of introducing into the human body mixtures of numerous foreign substances, the armamentarium of the modern physician is more and more being added to by glandular products, substances for the treatment of deficiency diseases, and means whereby the inorganic salts are adequately provided for, and the normal body processes built up to fight against or prevent disease. This new point of view (McLester 1934) is reflected in the changed attitude of the clinician toward the patient’s diet; whereas
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