A MANUAL OF Materia Medica, Therapeutics and Pharmacology - Preface

Oct 6, 2026

Uploaded by Damian

Preface describes the purpose of the manual: to provide medical professionals with a condensed resumé of the Materia Medica of remedies in common use, including their pharmacy and therapeutics. It outlines reasons for failure to obtain desired outcomes, emphasizing correct preparation and solvent or trituration methods when remedies are insoluble. It warns against unreliable so-called homæopathic preparations not proved, and summarizes official dosing guidance and therapeutic indications, including potency selection, repetition intervals, and case management when remedies cease to act.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryHealthcare

FormatPDF

Pages598

Reading Time25 h 7 min

AccessFree to download

Preface

Purpose and scope

Preparation, potency, and reliability of remedies

Dosage, repetition, and case management

# Class RX60 Book B Gopyright N? COPYRIGHT DEPOST 8■ A MANUAL OF Materia Medica,Therapeuticsand Pharmacology, With.Clinical Index BY A.L.BLACKWOOD,M.D., OFESSOR OF MATERIA MEDICA AND CLINICAL MEDICINE IK THE HAHNE-MANX MEDICAL COLLEGE,CHICAGO.AUTHOR OF“TEXT-BOOKOF DISEASEB OF THE HEART AXD OF THE LUNGS.” PHILADELPHIABOERICKE &TAFEI, 9 R COPYRIGHTED BY BOERICKE &TAFEL I906 PREFACE. This work was undertaken with a desire to place before themedical profession in condensed form a resumé of the MateriaMedica of all remedies in common use to date,their pharmacyand therapeutics,together with a chapter on prescription writ-ing,and the management of cases of poisoning. Many physicians have not obtained the desired results fromtheir remedies,because the right preparation has not been ad-ministered.This is especially true of remedies given in thelower potencies in dilution form.Where the remedies are notsoluble,the trituration form should be employed.Where it isdesirable that a particular strength or potency be used,thishas been indicated. Another explanation of the occasional failure of physiciansin obtaining results from their remedies is the fact that thereare many so-called homæopathic preparations onthe marketthatin reality are not homæopathic,they having never beenproved,which are,therefore,unreliable.Physicians shouldobtain their remedies from pharmacists that prepare medicinesof unquestioned reliability. Of such remedies as are official in the U.S.P.,the dosageand preparation have been indicated. Under the heading of Therapeutics,the cardinalindicationsfor the remedies have been given from a therapeutic stand-point. The author's recormmendations for the selection of thepotency vary,first,in accordance with the nature of the rem- edy employed;second,with the clinical history of the diseaseand third,with the temperament of the patient. Remedies which in their crude state are inert,or practicallyso,are employed in potencies ranging from the I2th decimato the 3oth and 2ooth centesimal.Remedies which are activ.in their crude state are employed in potencies ranging from Ito the 200.The patient with a highly developed nervous system,on whom medicines act quickly,should have,as a rule,the lower potencies,as these are slower in their action and lesspotent;whereas,the patient with a sluggish temperament thatneeds arousing,should be given the higher potencies.In dis-eases which present a chronic history,the potency selected isfrom the 3oth to the 2ooth centesimal and higher. The repetition of the dose depends upon the stage of thedisease.In acute cases,twenty drops of a dilution,ten tofifteen tablets,or an equal amount of powder are dissolved in qglass half full of water.Of this,two teaspoonfuls are ad-ministered at intervals of from ten minutes to one,two orthree hours,according to the severity of the symptoms an.whether or not prompt action is desired.The intervals arlengthened as the symptoms abate. In chronic cases,two or three doses of the remedy are ad-ministered within twelve hours,when a placebo is given athe effects of the remedy watched.No more medicine shobe administered so long as improvement continues. When a remedy is indicated,but its administration fails tomodify the symptoms,the potency should be changed,notthe remedy.When a remedy has ceased to act,the case shouldbe carefully reviewed and if it is decided to continue the rem-edy,it should be administered in another potency. As the size of the dose of potentized drugs is the same i!all cases,in giving the"dosage'for the different remedic PREFACE. the physiological dose,and the maximum dose only are given.The maximum dose being known,it will prevent the giving ofoverdoses. The author and the profession are indebted to F.A.Boericke,M.D.,for the pharmaceutical description of eachzemedy,also to M.R.French,M.D.,for the article on Phar-maceutics and the compilation from Modern Writers on P

FAQs

What is the purpose of the manual described in the Preface?

To present a condensed resumé of the Materia Medica of remedies in common use, including their pharmacy and therapeutics, plus guidance on prescription writing and poisoning case management.

Why might physicians fail to obtain desired results from remedies?

Failure is often due to improper preparation and administration, especially when lower potencies are given in dilution form or when remedies are insoluble and require trituration.

How does the Preface suggest choosing the potency and repeating the dose?

Potency selection varies with the remedy, the clinical history, and the patient’s temperament. Repetition depends on disease stage: acute cases use frequent intervals within hours, while chronic cases use two or three doses within twelve hours with observation of effects before further medicine.

Oct 6, 2026

Uploaded by Damian