INTRODUCTORY LECTURE

CLAIMS OF THE MATERIA MEDICA,

DELIVERED

IN

THE

UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA,

OCTOBER

10th, 1859.

BY

JOSEPH CARSON,

M.

D.,

PROFESSOR OP MATERIA MEDICA AND PHARMACY.

PUBLISHED BY THE CLASS.

PHILADELPHIA:
COLLINS, PRINTER, 705 JAYNE STREET.
1859.

the University of Pennsyla general meeting of the Medical Class of

the Introductory Adpublishing
of
purpose
for
the
21st,
October
held
vania,
called to the chair,
was
Cuba,
of
Recio,
Serapio
Mr.
dresses of the Professors,
and Mr. Samuel J. Jones, of Pennsylvania, appointed secretary.
desire of the
The following committee were appointed to carry out the

At

Class

Charles M. Ellis, Maryland.

Geo. Hasley Peets, Mississippi.
J. H. Bridges, New Brunswick.

Thomas J. Savage, Alabama.

Thomas J. Reed, Arkansas.
James R. Todd, Barbadoes, W. I.
R. F. Q. Button, Buenos Ayres.

Jos. B. Roe,

W.

B. Roberts, California.

L.

G. M. de Villa, Cuba.
J.

New Jersey.
New York.

B. Crain,

Turner Smith, North Carolina.

Nova Scotia.

E. D. Roach,

A. Draper, Delaware.

Edward Clark, England.

Kingston Goddard, Ohio.

J. P. Smith, Florida.

Bernardo Vallarino, Panama.

Geo.

N. B. Sadler, Georgia.
J. E.

Wilson,

W.

Miller, Pennsylvania.

E. C. Franklin,

Illinois.

James M. Johnson, Indiana.

J. W. Thompson, Kentucky.

J.

W.

Rhode

Island.

Liggon, South Carolina.

A. H. Voorhees, Tennessee.
James H. Gaskins, Virginia.

D. A. Du.nn, Louisiana.

CORRESPONDENCE.
University of Pennsylvania,
October 25th, 1859.
Professor Joseph Carson, M. D.
Dear Sir We, the undersigned, have been appointed a special committee
by the Medical Class of the University of Pennsylvania, to request a copy of
:

your Introductory Address for publication.

Hoping that you will accede to this request of the Class, we

Very

are,

respectfully, yours,

Serapio Recio,

Samuel

Edward

J.

Jones,

C. Franklin,

George H. Peets,

George W. Miller.

University of Pennsylvania,
October 30, 1859.

Gentlemen:

with pleasure accede to your request

Introductory Lecture, with the view to

its

publication,

for

and

the MS. of

at the

my

same time

desire to express to the Class, through you, the full appreciation of the com-

pliment.

With
cess,

the deepest interest in your behalf, and sincere wishes for your suc-

am

affectionately,

Your obedient servant,

JOSEPH CARSON.
To Messrs. Recio, Jones, Franklin,
Peets, and Miller.

INTRODUCTORY LECTURE.

Gentlemen

The

pleasing duty has fallen to

my

lot of first

expressing
presenting to you our cordial greeting, and of

meeting so
the sincere gratification afforded by again
many of our former friends and pupils. There are
many,

also,

with whom,

for the first time,

brought into personal intercourse

we

are

now

who, having enrolled

themselves under the banner of the University, are

The same

strangers to us no longer.

success and prosperity will be

have already won our

colleagues

and

for

felt,

as

On

affections.

interest in their

myself I tender you

for those

who

the part of
a

all

my

warm and

sincere welcome.

You
to

are aware, gentlemen, that

teach Materia

science,

and I

Medica

therefore,

course of instruction,

in

in

may be

this

it

is

my

province

school of medical

advance of our regular

permitted, in the form

of an introductory lecture, to urge the claims of my*

immediate branch, and in a general way endeavor

bespeak

for it that attention

assured

it

is

fully entitled.

that an inordinate estimate

and

interest to

It

may

value of a pursuit with which one

is

which I

to

am

sometimes alleged

be entertained of the
is

conversant, which

6
constitutes, as

were, the primary object

it

of study,

thought, and research throughout a lifetime;

the concentration of the faculties upon
appreciation of equally deserving ohjects

it,

that, in

the proper

may be masked
;

and
in

perceptions, these objects

its

At

mind circumscribed

that, in a

in its

may

view or

partial

find no place at

all.

we deprecate any such narrow interpretation of what may be set forth in furtherance of the
In tact, as the
design with which we arc now occupied.
the outset

effort to exhibit the true claims of

show,

its

merit

is

our department

will

in a large degree based upon

its

universality, its entire destitution of exclusiveness, and

its

world-wide ability

throw light upon and

to

illustrate

other departments of intellectual exploration.

The

idea

commonly

is

entertained, and especially

when

apt to be the case with the student

this

is

first

entering upon his labors, that the Materia Medica constitutes a dry,
it is

made up

and

difficult, if

not repulsive subject; that

of technicalities fatiguing to be recollected,

of facts and statements which, from their isolation, or

want of connection,
ing:

that

it

tire

and perplex the understand-

extended over

has been

so indefinite a

space as to baffle the most industrious habits, and defy

the power of ultimate mastery

in a word, as

its

and bearings are not seen or recognized from

vficial

survey, this branch

is

objects

a super-

regarded with least favor

in

a course of well-regulated medical instruction.

sentiment

may be

noticed,

promulgated, and, from

the

which was

high source

emanated, came wellnigh receiving favor

ment of the Materia Medica;

at

it

is

one time

whence

it

to the detri-

that this depart-

ment

is

one, secondary in importance

a subordinate

what are termed the practical departments, and

that it needs less effort to acquire what is really
to

essentially pertaining

to

it

met with

at the

to

represent

its

in the neglect, for a time,

those

of

This opinion originated

it.

who undertook

hands

interests,

and the lack of ardor or ability on their part to keep

pace in its culture with its accumulating materials.
But, thanks to the more recent illustrious individuals
who have appeared to vindicate its claims, a new era

has arisen in

destiny,

its

and

now

it

stands prominent

in its true position, indispensable in the

scheme

for the

acquisition of medical knowledge, secondary to none,

giving, as
sister

it

receives from them, aid and support to

departments.

The impression cannot be

the

reader

of

medical

importance has been in

ploration of the Materia

it;

otherwise than

and which becomes

history,

all

ages attached to the ex-

Medica

at

how

early a period

was cultivated; how much has been written upon

and how perseveringly researches have been con-

ducted by the
inquirers

great

solely

number

who have devoted

sion and perfection.

of

zealous

and

eager

their energies to its exten-

Nor has

it

been a favorite subject

with those whose profession necessarily induced

application to pharmacological studies.

in

made upon

he advances, what high degree of

strengthened as

it

its

their

day

for

intellectual

Men, eminent

accomplishments,

who

have been distinguished as philosophers, moralists, and

politicians, have seen its attractiveness and been se-

duced by

its

allurements.

The schoolman,

Aristotle,

whose philosophy

for centuries

held

reasoning intellect, and his modern

disenthralled the

mind from

were both sedulous

Bacon, who

slavish philosophic fetters,

inquirers

Nor has

knowledge.

spell-bound the

rival,

after

pharmacological

the naturalist neglected

it

when

expatiating amid the marvellously created wonders of

the globe; for Pliny, Tournefort, and Linnaeus turned
aside from admiration of
to

them

our branch of science.

to present a contribution

But, further,

expended upon a pursuit can be alleged

ment

in its

favor,

if

to

enthusiasm

be an argu-

where has enthusiasm been

more

greater extent called forth, or

to

profitably led on

a
its

votary, than in supporting, through days and nights of

toil,

ardent cultivators of the Materia Medical

but an inherent love for

sure in treasuring

up

its

advancement, and

plea-

records, could have prompted

its

the labors of Dioscorides and Avicenna; of

Pomet and

Lemery; of Allston and Cullen; of Thompson,

tison,

What

Chris-

and Pcreira; and of our own Barton and Wood?

Surely, then, I

may speak warmly and

strongly of the

claims of this ancient department of medicine.

The

first

our subject
relations.

aspect in which
is

we would

that arising from

Every

science,

its

indeed,

strictly educational
is

the educational training incident to

portion to

its

serviceable from
its

study, in pro-

range and the expenditure of memory and

thought required by
of the

desire to place

it

and, although the application

truths acquired constitutes

the aim of every

systematized branch of information, the process through

which the mind must

pass, in the acquisition of them,

increases the facility of turning

them

to

account when

Much

needed.

has been laid upon suggestive

stress

fulfilment of
power in the adaptation of means to the
foundation in
certain ends: this undoubtedly has its

and he

association,

is

most

efficient

whose possession of

to aid
details affords the largest scope of associations

The Materia Medica

in their production.

is fertile

in

the
details, which, with their associations, strengthen
mental faculties when exercised upon them, and give
superior skill

when they

are called into requisition for

practical purposes.

But,
calities

it

may be

which render

uninitiated,

with

asked,

its

its

why

is

it

clogged with techni-

acquisition difficult, perplex the

to error in those not conversant

and lead

In the present advanced

learning?

state

by

science, simplicity itself consists in technicalities,

which positive and

definite ideas are

abandon them would

art,

and perplexities of

every science, has

only question which presents

and euphony.

In some, the

seaman, to navigate his

name

to

plunge the present generation

ill-constructed

badly-understood terms of expression.

every

and

entail all the jargon of circumlo-

cutory language, and

into the doubts

conveyed

of

vessel,

Every vocation,

technicalities,

its

and

and the

itself is their applicability

latter matters little.

The

must acquire the technical

of each part and appendage belonging to her; the

lawyer has likewise technicalities as old as the black

letter learning of his profession

unlearned,

is

while theology, to the

as mystical as cabalistic devices.

might

go the round of the industrial employments and find

a

peculiar form

of them.

Why,

of language

belonging to each one

then, charge as an opprobrium to our

10

what every pursuit

science

exhibits,

and what would

seem, to be indispensable'?

Upon

turning to the records of our department,

evident to what extent

will be

gained by the adoption

advantage

lias

it

been

of a well-devised and well-

arranged system of technicalities.

may

instance the

difference in nomenclature exhibited in the older works

upon the Materia Medica, and those of recent

In the one a

full

not the tersest terms, frequently

name

now

it clearly,

istics

origin.

description of an article, couched

in

fulfilled the office of its

a single word, or at most two, will indicate

and bring before the memory the

which belong

to

Indeed,

it.

it

character-

has been found

impossible, from vague and ambiguous descriptions, and

the want of a technical language to indicate them, to

identify
It has

many

of the substances pertaining to antiquity.

been proposed

to use

our own vernacular ex-

pressions instead of the elaborated language of science

to

employ the English names

descriptions

of the

articles

in our prescriptions and

of the

instead of those derived from the

But

this

numerous

would lead
errors,

to

Materia Medica,

Greek and the

Latin.

to

more

greater

difficulties,

and "confusion worse confounded."

In a vernacular the terms are

ill

selected, indiscrimi-

nately applied, or loosely constructed.

Dispensatory and ascertain

as snakeroot,
as

how many

American ipecacuanha.

as

how many

Turn

drugs are

to

the

known

puccoon, as Indian hemp,

Are we

to use the

mongrel

vocabulary of aborigines or herb-venders'? The answer

our terminology.
is plain to all cavillers against

The

present time

is

not suited to an exposition of our

11

nomenclature, or to an examination of
It

is

sufficient to affirm that it

carefully constructed, is

the profession, and

peculiar merits.

has been laboriously and

admirably suited to the wants of

to

is

its

be sedulously acquired by the

student, now, as a potent

means of strengthening

memory, augmenting his

associations,

his

and ultimately

conferring practical efficiency in directing materials to

True

be employed for the relief of his fellow-beings.

scholarship

is

tested

of this description;

by scrupulous attention

to minutiae

and our national medical character

may be judged abroad from the observance or neglect of

them.
The great defect in our medical literature has
sprung from this source, and, strong and otherwise meritorious as

it is, it falls

short frequently of the elegance

which a compliance with rigid rules would give

indite prescriptions in terms half English

it.

To

and half Latin,

without an apparent comprehension of the force of

either, is inexcusable

yet this

tributions to the journals, and,

may be met with in conwe regret to say, even in

the Transactions of the American Medical Association.

We

might

insist,

next,

upon the

benefit derived from

the study of the Materia Medica by the discipline to

which the senses are subjected, and by calling forth the

habit of accurate comparison and nice discrimination.

That such
its

is

the result

is

self-evident

from the fact that

objects are tangible, requiring scrutiny into their

sensible properties, and a perfect familiarity with them.

In

resembles other demonstrative branches of

science, justly valued for their education of the faculty
this it

of observation.

will not

dwell, however, on

what

12

mea more appropriately

portion of our course, and

will pass to the consideration of those points in which

there

found a bond of connection with the exterior

is

universe.
It is to

bo recollected that the substances forming the

armamentarium of the physician

are derived from nature.

nothing especially occult or incomprehensible

about their formation or production, and they are amen-

There

is

Same laws and influences as other natural

objects by which we are surrounded, and which may he

able to the

congeneric in character.

As products then

of the mate-

world, they are subject to the order, arrangement,

rial

and harmony which have been stamped upon

by

an

infinitely

apportioned to

and given

to

its

man

wise

and

Creator,

skilful

creation

who

has

place each animal, plant, or mineral,

the privilege of

making them

subser-

vient to his gratification, to his wants, and, in the dark

hour of his suffering,

to his relief

and comfort.

It

is

impossible to disconnect the investigation of medicinal

from that of nature, and in

properties

would wish

to regard

this

it.

The inquiry may be suggested, What has

man

to

do with nature]

the suffering

His calling

and diseases of humanity.

the medical

to administer to

is

He

cinal agents to effect this great purpose,

leisure,

studies medi-

and has not the

even had he the taste and the inclination,

beyond the

we

light

circle of his avocations.

Restricted as

to

go

may

be his immediate pursuit, he cannot be other than a naturalist, for

with the laws of nature must he be occupied;

he must render himself familiar with, and be guided

13

The merest

by them.

study

as his

in

is

scrutable

pathologist becomes a naturalist,

the natural history of disease, manifested

The true
of human

phenomena.

investigating modifications
also to discover

duced
to

physician, while
structure, seeks

the elements from which they are pro-

the sources which originate them.

assistance all the

his

succor which

He

invokes

and

physical

chemical science can afford; pries open as far as possible

the secret springs of

life,

to aid in his deductions.

Still

he appeals to agents to carry out intentions that

may be formed with reference to the removal of disease
further,

and these are composed of natural principles, which

have such an

influence

upon the structure of the

organs, or their

modes of

vitality, as to

dicate

morbid derangements of them.

check and era-

Herein

consists

the difference between the physician and the empiric.

The

first

must have the

It is the

spirit of the naturalist.

popular belief that the study of natural his-

tory proper is confined to the

examination of external

forms, to the determination of orders arising from them,

and the classification of living or extinct beings.

is

but a limited view of

its

attributes

the

principles

surface.

The

truths

which are deeper

discovery of the elementary

and forces which have contributed

metamorphosis of matter,
as the

the field

is

The reasoning and experimenting

powers must penetrate into

than

The

and scope.

whole organic constitution of the universe

of its researches.

This

is

to

the

as legitimately its province

designation of specific characteristics.

Modes

and processes are presented, whether dealing with cunningly devised animate existences, or

the

inanimate

matter that

lies a

written document of bygone ages.

cannot escape the notice even of

works of nature, that

by which

systematic plan

things have been

all

lias

been adopted,

to

harmonize, by

made

which have been entailed mutual dependence and

an unknown

The

sup-

Isolation without relation to surrounding bodies

port.
is

It

casual observer of the

fact

the constitution

in

of

tin

world.

elucidation of this plan in each department, and

detecting the minutiae of

constitute

tin

its

preservation and working,

business of the philosophic naturalist, and

his highest function

to

is

ascertain the laws by which

organic and inorganic nature

governed, from which

is

practical results will follow as a necessary consequence.

The

constitution of

starch granule and

its

office

el'

nourishment, by conversion into sugar, to the infant

plant, or to

infant man,

become

much

as

the subject of

inquiry as the formation of a continent,

The

cultivation of

tin;

Materia Mediea,

in

its

widest

and most comprehensive sense, opens a boundless expanse for contemplation, and places at the command of
the possessor of
ledge,

its

stores of natural

and physical know-

resources either of pleasure

article of

which

it is

utility.

composed possesses a

the details invite special scrutiny.

list

or

It

Each

history, and

comes

into the

loaded with associations, from which the dullest

exposition of

which

its

qualities or virtues cannot free

it,

and

in their, fullest extent constitute the delight of

ardent and enlightened inquirers.

It

may

be permitted

us to exhibit such as will illustrate this statement with

sufficient clearness.

As

a large proportion of the articles belonging to the

15
Materia Mcdica are derived from the vegetable kingdom,
this at

once attracts attention from

its

prominence and

Either portions of plants, or pro-

ready application.

which are yielded by them, are employed in the

In the whole vegetable world
form of medicines.
ducts

organization

is

may be recognized
system histology
so

is

it

the foundation of differences that

at

and

Commencing with simple

in the vegetable.

is

made

animal

the groundwork of our knowledge,

is

formative structure, in

advance

as in the study of the

to

which

exists the cell-germ,

an

more complex, organ upon organ

being added to complete the noblest specimen of vegetative life.

Upon

this organization,

whether simple or

complicated, the laws of growth, change, and decay, as

well

as

the generation of peculiar principles by the

assimilation

depend.

and

Classification is

external

of

reaction

founded upon

agents,

it,

must

and has been

rendered perfect and practically useful in proportion to

the advances

made

in unfolding

it.

The most persistent and easily determined marks of

difference between vegetables are discoverable in the
these has reference been

reproductive organs, and to

The one

made in framing schemes of classification.

now universally adopted

so

will be selected, that of Jussieu,

admirably exemplified and improved by

and Lindley.

The beauty

of this

method

De
is

Candolle

the entire

dependence on structural characteristics, which are not

mutable, but found under

manner of association
order, so that

may look

when

is

all

in

circumstances, and their

conformity with a fixed

a certain set of

for all the others.

them

is

present

Thus the union of

we

vascular

16
linked with the production offlowen

and

cellular tissue

and

seeds, the cellular alone

is

with Spores; hence we have

Pkenogamia and Cryptogamia^ and synonymous with

these classes arc Coti/h'donous and Acotj/ledonoi/s, or those
plants with seed-lobes, and those destitute of them.
first

of these divisions

is

Ths

again separable into such

as

are formed by an external growth, and such as increase

by an internal deposit, each with a peculiar structural

arrangement of the primary

specification of JSxogens

tissues,

and Endegens,

and hence
or, as

the

the one has

a double provision of seed-lobes, and the second but a

Bingle

lobe, Dicotyledonous

and MonocotjjJcdonous.

At

the extreme ends of this arrangement are the giant oak

and the creeping lichen.

tative organized

at the

head of vege-

existences, exogenous in

its

growth,

tempest and flourishes for ages; gnarled

defies the

compact

The one

;m<l

in its structure, it serves the floating bulwarks

of a nation; while the other, lowest in the scale, tenacious of

life

as

to its protector,
its vitality

uncomplicated in organization,

clings

and, like a wretched parasite, preys upon

to finally

complete

its

ruin.

Between them

an extensive range of structural gradations exists

in

accordance with the distinctions which have been given,

the links so accurately defined as to give to each particular plant its true position.

But, as with animals, ydants have likewise their family

groups, and in these will be found affinities and alliances

which are unmistakable.

have mentioned the

exist-

ence of principles in medicinal substances, which give

to

them

efficiency, or

which when separated are found

be infinitely more potent.

Chemistry, which

is

to

the skil-

17

handmaid of every natural

ful

science, reveals to us the

truth that these principles are found in families,

that the presence of

any particular one

the potato

is

the type, are

more or

of which

noxious

and

no excep-

is

They owe

tion, in its uncivilized condition.

to

less

nourishment

that indispensable source of

almost an

is

The Solanea,

identifying family characteristic.

and

this quality

the presence of an alkaloid, and assume what

name

it

may, as Solania, Hyoscyamia, Daturia, from the progress

most pro-

of organic chemistry in that direction, they are

common base. The Cinchonacea

extensively known as it is popular as a

bably the oxides of a

contain quinia,

remedy, or some analogous principle, which renders the

family so valuable

and therapeutic

a commercial

in

their odor,

The Prunea resemble each other in

arising from the presence of the compound

substance

amygdalin, which, from

point of view.

reaction

with

emulsin, forms the noted sedative prussic acid.

The

its

Rosacea contain tannin, and the Labiates yield a volatile

oil,

constituting our most grateful stimulants

fumes.

might

in

this

way go through

and

per-

the whole

catalogue of Families pertaining to the Materia Medica,

so

admirably co-ordinated in their botanical, chemical,

and therapeutic relations by

De

Candolle, in his " Essay

upon the Medicinal Properties of Plants;" but

has been said for the present purpose.
ble for the physician

whose dependence

performance of his duties

is

roots, leaves, stems, flowers,

stituents

and products,

much information

Now

sufficient

is it

possi-

for the successful

on his acquaintance with

and

fruits,

with their con-

to limit his inquiries to just so

as will enable

him

to prescribe

them?

IS

If rhubarb or jalap

presented, will the mosl obtu

is

aroused

curiosity not be operated upon, or interest

whole history and

their

endowments

with

fitted

associations'!
to

assume

("not, lie

the

in

is little

function

every physician should be) of a high priest of nature,

conversant with secret mysteries within the veil of the

temple

mon
in

in

which he

officiates.

We

are told that Solo.

could "speak of trees, from the cedar tree that

Lebanon even unto the hyssop which springeth

how much

of the wall," yet

knowledge may
student
It

of*

the present day and generation.

would be pertinent

most

to

claim for our branch a further

what manner

appropriate introduction to

horticulture, agriculture,
arts,

out

species of

this

the rightly inspired Materia Medica

lie

extension, and exhibit in

the

wiser in

is

and

might

the nicer opera-

as in the crude state the disem-

bowelled earth furnishes potent

application, I

become

pursuits of

and many of the manufacturing

especially those connected with

tions of chemistry

will

it

tin

expatiate;

agents

lor

medicinal

upon the inducement

given to the prosecution of geology; but

refrain, and

desire to turn to other considerations.

The

sources of the Materia

articles

composing

of the world; they

rising
life

it

Medica

are not local; the

are brought to us from every quarter

may

exist in lands as remote; as the

and setting of the sun; in countries teeming with

and animation from genial warmth and refreshing

moisture, in arid deserts of the tropics, or in the con-

gealed

soils

of

polar

representatives of the
earth,

regions.

Drugs, then,

distinctive

brought together with

toil

art;

the

productions of the

and labor

for

one

19
relief of the

purpose, the

specific

derivation

is

their origin the

habitable globe, and in tracing

student must become informed upon

the subject of races of

savage.

or

may be

whether

man and

his condition,

In

the exposition of the

fact

sources of medicinal agents

from which

Their

life.

associated with the manners and customs

of all nations of the

civilized

of

ills

becomes a book of

travels

gleaned instruction and amusement.

At one time the Tartar is brought before him with the

at another the
full picture of nomadic independence
;

Chinese,

with

his

strange, conventional civilization.

Now the indolent Turk, and

Hindoo

then the weak and confiding

Here the Laplander

again the fierce Malay.

with his primitive covering and habits

there the Terra

Del Fuegan and not less degraded Hottentot.

Rhubarb,

camphor, opium, pepper, and the spices, the nutritive

mosses, Winter's bark,
of ethnology.

and

aloes,

each opens a chapter

Besides, the influences derived from the

physical formation of the earth,

with

its

attendant

soil

and climate, cannot be overlooked in such researches.

The cinchona of the

of the

lofty Cordilleras, or the sarsaparilla

dark alluvial plains beneath them, both within a

torrid zone,

present pertinent examples of these influ-

ences.

The account of the Materia Medica

with the progress of civilization.
course

is

also connected

The commercial

inter-

between distant nations has introduced the

and appliances of the superior

Commencing

among

arts

inferior people.

in its caravansary form, it has left the slow

and plodding dependence on beasts of burden, and, guided
by the compass, has spread its wings over every sea.

20
a keel can float, there

Wherever

The

prising industry.

mart for enter-

is

story of adventurous maritime

daring, embraces that of medicinal articles, and

follow

De Gama

Cook

or

interest

with an additional

opened

for the

The

modern governments

facilities

they

jealousies and struggl

ascendency, or

drugs, are not the

less

to

matters

how Portugal and Holland consupremacy; how Spain battled for

learn

tended for an eastern

i.

the

maintain

to

this trade in

We

of inquiry.

from

supply of health-restoring products of

more distant regions.

monopolize

we may

in their perilous enterprises

and how England, with her naval audacity

and pre-eminence, 1ms plundered both; and

become

The

the greatest colonizer of any age or nation.

Dutch,

during their control of the Spice Islands of the Eastern

their commercial

sedulously guarded

Archipelago, so

nutmeg was permitted to he

exported, and, to maintain the price, what equalled a
whole year's crop was once destroyed in Amsterdam to
interests, that not a living

make room
Another

for the

coming har\

association, that

may

still

bo mentioned,

with the career of illustrious individuals.

would be too extensive a theme

to enter

upon and

eluci-

date in the present sketch of the points of interest

dent to our branch of medicine.

It

may be

that to eminent rulers, statesmen,

simply

and even

leaders, as well as scientific explorers,

ii

This, indeed,

is it

inci-

stated,

military

indebted

for

bringing prominently forward the resources of countries

previously

efforts of these

tion,

known, or wholly undeveloped.

little

men

and render

it

to

The

extend the domain of informa-

available to the advantage of their

21
respect
and of mankind, cannot but elicit
single incommendation. I will refer but to a

native land

and

undertook his
In the year 1798, Bonaparte
He has been called
celebrated expedition into Egypt.

stance.

a ravager
a heartless conqueror,

and destroyer of the

insatiate
on by personal greed of fame and
more elevated
yet deeper views of policy and

nations, led

ambition;

sentiments actuated
to

this occasion.

him on

He

desired

between the East and

open a channel of intercourse

highway, and to
West, which has since become a
region it was his
unfold the resources of the benighted

the

With an

object to control.

eagle eye he looked

upon

the pyramids as the richest field for

he recollected the vast antiquity of its
abundance of its monumental remains,

the country of

exploration;
history,

the

arts and sciences of a

its undetermined records of the
population long since departed, and he resolved they

Aided by the chemist

should be mysteries no longer.

Bcrthollet, a corps of savans,
line,

was brought together.

Institute of Cairo.
its

labors,

It

which, from

monument

itself to

memory

we indebted
of Senna,
I

of

produced a work, the summary of

extent and magnificence,

its

it

is

appeared, and which will out-

many

a victory.

for the scientific

and other

It resolved itself into the

the glory of the munificent patron

under whose auspices

live the

each one eminent in his

To

this

work

are

and commercial account

articles of the

Materia Medica.

have now, gentlemen, endeavored to present to

your consideration the subject, on which a portion of

your labor will be expended during the coming session,

in

such a

way

as to

bespeak for

it

the degree of inte-

thai

A\

merits.

it

yourselves

appropriating

to

more

termed

strictly

Pharmacology,

respect to the necessity of

it li

have

Therapeutical

the

made

and have not dwelt upon

it

but

thoroughly understanding

and

physiological
agents, their

blishing

organs

tendencies

effects

derangement must

under

become

importance of

of

medicinal

operations

vital

To become

all

phases

as familiar

as

knowledge

in

accom-

of

morbid

one's

own

will

he

the several

courses on the practical branches by the able teachers

whom

of

routinists,

thoughts and feelings, and ample opportunity

afforded of acquiring such

for

connected with the

physicians, above inert

of remedies

behalf

disease, or of esta-

the

in

in

have taken

action

pathological

as will lead to its removal.

plished philosophic

the

is

modes of eradicating

such

the

to

that

all

of

argument

as an

you are awake

that

is

passing allusion,

of the claims of the Materia Medica.

granted

which
division

portion

that

to

they have been allotted, and in the therapeutical

instruction

received from this

chair.

have rather

sought to present a wider range than the application

of the Materia

man, and

Medica

to the daily duties of the medical

to exhibit that in the

of at least one branch, there

is

thorough cultivation
afforded the means of

tracing nature in her most intricate operations, of plac-

ing the medical .student in his right position as an

inquirer into

all

that relates to the animate or inani-

mate world, of giving

him food for thought, and

solace in his weary course, of making him at home
where'er he may bend his step-, and of securing to
to

him, in society, the fully awarded

title

of a gentleman

23
and a scholar.

With

this spirit I

would have you enter

upon your studies, and desire to be the humble instrument of placing in your hands an Ariadne thread by
which you can follow, with perfect satisfaction and success,

paths which

may now appear

a labyrinthian maze.