On the animal alkaloids : the ptomaïnes, leucomaïnes, and extractives in their pathological relations ... / by Sir William Aitken.

Date:
1887
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: On the animal alkaloids : the ptomaïnes, leucomaïnes, and extractives in their pathological relations ... / by Sir William Aitken. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh. The original may be consulted at the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh.

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    cycles of time. Thus it is that discoveries are very slowly and as it were quite unconsciously elaborated- one man's work preparing the way for advances towards ultimate discovery by another. But there is still another point to be noted as regards discoveries, namely:—That when discoveries are made it is not always easy to appreciate their value, or even to comprehend their significance, and far less to fore- cast the numerous and important results to which, in the future, they may lead. Time is therefore an important element in their evo- lution, their development, their influence and then- powers of usefulness. Therefore it is that we may look forward with con- fidence to the future for much thoughtful work to help onwards those discoveries which have yet to come. Could we but climb some pathological Pisgah and be allowed to stand as Moses stood, when he was per- mitted to view the promised land, we too might rejoice in the bright and certain prospect that there lays before us a great and glorious future for Pathology and for the Science and Practice of our Art. [Since these pages were printed, I have received from my friend Dr. A. M. Brown an early copy of a very exhaustive Treatise on Cadaveric Alkaloids and PtomaKnes, in which he gives full details as to the methods devised and practised for extracting the cadaveric allcaloids; and as to the chemical properties of them, their physiolo- gical action, and place in scientific medicine ; concluding with a very complete Bibliographical list of the works which deal with this very interesting subject. Published by John Bale and Sons, Great Titohfield Street, W, 1887.]