Materia medica, or, Pharmacology and therapeutics (Volume 1, Part 2).

  • Tully, William, 1785-1859.
Date:
1857-58
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Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Materia medica, or, Pharmacology and therapeutics (Volume 1, Part 2). Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by the National Library of Medicine (U.S.), through the Medical Heritage Library. The original may be consulted at the National Library of Medicine (U.S.)

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    that was so called, is incapable of destroying life at all; and the other four suspend the functions of the nerves of expression and respiratory motion, the action of the heart and arteries some times continuing for hours afterwards. It is probable that in all cases ot a suspension of the function of respiration from Cyanogen and its compounds, life might always be saved by keeping-up factitious respiration till the effects of the Narcotic have passed-off. This has been certainly ascertained in regard to all those articles which depend upon Curarine for their activity, and Curarine is more active than Cyanogen and its compounds, at least when employed by inoculation. Good speaks of the plants that contain Prussic Acid. There are none that contain either of the six substances that have been so called, any more than there is Eye that contains Alcohol. Whence he could have derived sucli notions I can not possibly conjecture. It is very evident from the perusal of Good's Study of Medicine, that the author knew very little of the Nar- cotics, as articles of the materia medica. In fact, it is plain that he entertained scarcely a correct notion about them. In consequence of opinions widely prevalent at the present pe- riod, it seems to be necessary to say a few words concerning the relation between Narcotics and Congestion. Ever since the wri- tings of John xirmstrong have exerted so much influence upon the pathological views of the British and United States Medical profession, Congestion seems to have had a new and extraordinary importance attached to it, which has greatly affected both materia medica and therapeutics, as well as pathology. It is now not only reckoned as the essential cause, but also as the essential pathologi- cal condition of numerous diseases, it being esteemed the instru- ment, by which numerous diseases destroy life. Indeed, according to the late bills of mortality, it is very often an independent dis- ease of itself, occurring without connexion with any other patho- logical conditions, and very often producing death. For several years past, when ever I have inquired after the disease of any one who has recently died, the answer has been (I think in a majority of cases) Congestion ; so that, if I had given full credit to these replies, I should have come to the conclusion that it is the most widely prevalent, and the most fatal disease of the times. But, it may be inquired what connexion this has with the Narco- tics ? I answer that much the largest portion of all the physicians