I cannot conclude these observations upon Mr. Brande’s attack, without expressing a deep feeling of regret, that a gentleman, whose deserved rank in society, and whose talents and acquirements must entitle him to our respect, should have condescended to countenance and encourage that vile and wretched taste of depreciating the value and importance of our most venerable institutions, and of bringing into contempt those acknowledged authorities which must always meet with the approbation of the best, and the sanction and support of the wisest portion of mankind. And I shall here protest against the prevailing fashion of examining and deciding upon the pretensions of every medicinal compound to our confidence, by a _mere chemical_ investigation of its composition, and of rejecting, as fallacious, every medical testimony which may appear contradictory to the results of the Laboratory; there is no subject in science to which the maxim of Cicero more strictly applies, than to the present case; let the _Ultra_ Chemist therefore cherish it in his remembrance, and profit by its application—“PRÆSTAT NATURÆ VOCE DOCERI, QUAM INGENIO SUO SAPERE.” Has not experience fully established the value of many medicinal combinations, which, at the time of their adoption could not receive the sanction of any chemical law? We well remember the opposition, which on this ground was for a long time offered to the introduction of the _Anti-hectic Mixture_ of Dr. Griffith,—the _Mistura Ferri Composita_ of the present Pharmacopœia, and yet subsequent inquiry has confirmed upon scientific principles the justness of our former practical conclusion; for it has been shewn that the chemical decompositions which constituted the objection to its use, are in fact the causes of its utility (_see Mist. Ferri_,); the explanation, moreover, has thrown additional light upon the theory of other preparations; so true is the observation of the celebrated Morveau, that “_We never profit more than by these unexpected results of Experiments, which contradict our Analogies and preconceived Theories_.” Whenever a medicine is found by experience to be effectual, the practitioner should listen with great circumspection to any _chemical_ advice for its correction or improvement. From a mistaken notion of this kind the _Extractum Colocynthidis compositum_, with a view of making it chemically compatible with _Calomel_, has been deprived of the _Soap_ which formerly entered into its composition, in consequence of which its solubility in the stomach is considerably modified, its activity is therefore impaired, and its mildness diminished.[115]