523

" PROP. 6. That while in the blood the medicine may undergochanges, which in some cases may, in others may not, affectits influence. That these changes may be-

a. Of combination.b. Of reconstruction.c. Of decomposition.

"PROP. 7. That a first class of medicines, called Hsematics,act while in the blood, which they influence. That their actionis permanent.

" 1. That of these, some, called Restoratives, act by supply-ing or causing to be supplied, a material wanting; and mayremain in the blood.

" 2. That others, called Catalytics, act so as to counteract a Imorbid material or process; and must pass out of the body." PROP. 8. That a second class of medicines, called Neurotics,

act by passing from the blood to the nerves or nerve centres,which they influence. That they are transitory in action.

" 1. That of these, some, called Stimulants, act so as toexalt nervous force, in general or in particular.

" 2. That others, called Narcotics, act so as first to exaltnervous force, and then to depress it; and have also a specialinfluence on the intellectual part of the brain.

" 3. That others, again, called Sedatives, act so as to depressnervous force, in general or in particular.

" PROP. 9. That a third class of medicines, called Astrin-gents, act by passing from the blood to muscular fibre, whichthey excite to contraction." PROP. 10. That a fourth class of medicines, called Elimina-

tives, act by passing out of the blood through the glands,which they excite to the performance of their functions."The fourth and last chapter is devoted to the consideration

of the mode of action of some of the more important medicinesin particular, such as alcohol, arsenic, strychnia, mercury,iodine, &c., by means of which several of the general prin-ciples which have been laid down in the propositions are illus-trated. The following observations on the point of view fromwhich the action of a medicine may be regarded, are so appo-site, that we cannot do better, in closing our necessarily imper-fect and brief notice of Mr. Headland’s excellent book, thanquote them. It is stated-

"There are three stages in the progress of the remedy throughthe system, at each of which it may exert a special action.There is a contact with the surface, a continuance in thesystem, and a passage out of the system. In the first place amedicines touches the mucous surface of the alimentary canal;here some few evidence their action. From this, if in any waysoluble, it passes into the blood. Here it may act on the

blood, being haematic; or it may employ the blood merely asa means of transit, and direct itself towards nerve or muscularfibre, being neurotic or astringent. But we have seen thatnone of these medicines, with the only exception of restorativehaematics, can remain long in the system. They must pass out,and the mode of passage is through the glands. Here is athird opportunity of operation. The medicine may act nowas an eliminative, increasing the secretion of the gland; or,more rarely, as a glandular astringent, because tending todiminish it.

" As a general rule, though not in all cases, the most impor-tant action of a medicine is that which it first evidences, thesubsequent operations being secondary and of less moment.Thus mercury is, in the first place, a catalytic hsematic; inthe second place an eliminative. Creosote is, firstly, a generalsedative; secondly, an astringent. Antimony probably belongsto three out of the four classes, and its second operation is

perhaps the most important. It is a catalytic, a special seda-tive, and also an eliminative."-p. 299.

THE MEDICAL PROFESSION AND AMERICANSLAVERY.

To the Editor of THE LANCET.SiR,—I see in the Times of to-day, that a meeting of ladies

has lately been held at Stafford House, for the purpose of address-ing a memorial from the women of England to the women ofthe United States, in favour of the abolition of slavery.While I earnestly admire the philanthropic motives which

called these ladies together, and anticipate great good from theirlabours, I cannot but think that they have set before the Englishmembers of the profession of medicine, an example well worthyof being followed.

The profession of medicine, wherever truthfully practised,lends to mankind the most gentle, the most humanizing in-fluence. In any effort, therefore, to make better the condition ofthe poor son of Africa, our medical brethren of America musthave it in their power to render important service. Now, mightnot we, the medical men of this country, do much good bytransmitting a fitting memorial to our Transatlantic brethren,entreating them to lend their aid to every endeavour that shallbe made to abolish slavery ? We have grounds, indeed, for makingsuch an appeal, possessed by no other class of men. The livesof our American professional brothers are, like ours, spent inendeavours to relieve their fellow men, (whether slaves or free-men, I presume,) from physical suffering. Who then, are morefitted than they, to assist in removing mental suffering? Nay,in the absence of mental happiness, the very profession ofmedicine becomes a falsehood and a crime ; for what merit canthere be in relieving the pains of a diseased body, whilst thesoul which animates it, and for which it only lives, is torturedwith insults, and trodden down by the most loathsome tyranny ?

I observe that the ladies to whom I have referred above, statein their memorial, that as they have no share in the governmentof their nation, their appeal is necessarily free from all politicalfeelings. The members of the medical profession of this

country might make a similar statement, and might turn themisfortune implied in that statement, for once at least, to an usefulaccount. I beg, therefore, to point out to my professional asso-ciates, the benefits that might arise from a memorial to ourAmerican brethren on the subject of slavery. I would alsoobserve, that the memorial might be prepared at the merestoutlay of labour, and at little pecuniary cost. The meetingtogether of a few active and temperate men to frame a brief letter,and the signatures of all others who might be favourable to theplan, is all that would be required.Oh! it would be a great and wonderful thing to see the mem.

bers of the medical profession of Great Britain forgetting foronce their own quibbles and disputes, and joining in an unani-mous appeal to the good feeling of their fellow-labourers onthe other side of the Atlantic, in an appeal for liberty, on behalfof men who deserve it not less than any other of the children ofour supreme and universal Father. By such an act, moreover,the English medical body of to-day would leave behind it an im-pression of goodness, which, instead of being effaced by time,would become greater and more beautiful, in proportion as it wasexamined by the wiser and the purer minds of coming ages.

I have the honour, Sir, to remain, very obediently yours,BENJAMIN W. RICHARDSON.

Mortlake, November 29th, 1852.

SULPHURIC ACID IN CHOLERA.To the Editor of THE LANCET.

SlE,—Lookers-on often see more of the game than those whoplay. Spectators are amused with the hot-headed warfare carriedon between Drs. Miller and Bell, and Mr. Cox, upon the subject ofsulphuric acid as a cure for diarrhoea and cholera. Strange thatit has not occurred to these claimants for the credit of priorityin the use of this remedy, that they have not used sulphuric acidat all! It is singular that in the formula of Dr. Miller the pro-portions of diluted sulphuric acid and compound tincture of car-damoms, are very nearly those for the formation of sulphuricether. ,

, The fact that the combination of the acid and alcohol takesplace very soon in the mixture, is easily verified, and that thecombination is speedily completed in the warm stomach is per-fectly true.

That sulphuric ether, as a diffusible stimulus, is of use in casesof diarrhaea and cholera, after the materies morbi has beenevacuated from the alimentary canal by the natural efforts or byartificial means, is very probable ; but it is sulphuric ether, andnot sulphuric acid, which is of service.The incompatibility of acids and alcohol has escaped the

observation of the editor of the P7tysician’s Pharmacopaeia. Thevegetable acids are mentioned as incompatible with mineral acidsand alkalies, and the mineral acids as incompatible with alkaliesand metallic oxides; but not any notice is given of the incompa-tibility of acids, both vegetable and mineral, with alcohol asforming ethers. Yours, obediently,

ALIQUIS.

Guy’s HospiTAL.—One of the Governors, JohnHarvey Astell, Esq., M.P., has liberally placed at the disposal ofthe treasurer, to be competed for by the pupils, an appointmentof Assistant-surgeon in the Hon. East India Company’s service.