Stimulants, 226. Stramonium, 240. Strychnia, 337. Sulphur, in skin diseases, 215, 301. Sulphuric acid, 313. Syphilis, treatment of, 188. Tannic acid, 356. Tartar emetic, 321. Tea, a Sedative, 248. Thomson, Dr. A. T., on action of medicines, 39. Tonics, 129. Turpentine, its modes of action, 229, 267, 305. Urinary deposits, treatment of, 149, 307. Water, its elimination, 154, 300, 307. Young, Dr., his classification, 32. Zinc, sulphate of, its actions, 93, 211, 264. FOOTNOTES: [1] "In reasoning as to the probable effects of particular remedies on the human body, the conditions and circumstances of the latter are so various in different cases, and the number of concomitants which have to be considered in addition to the more obvious facts and symptoms, is so great that the utmost exertion of human sagacity, founded upon the largest induction of particulars which any one mind is capable of embracing and retaining, can do no more than approximate to that real evidence of which the case seems by its proper nature to be susceptible."--_Glassford's Principles of Evidence._ [2] Dr. A. Pitcairn, in 1704, concluded one of his works by saying, "Thus have I succeeded in solving the noble problem, viz., to find a remedy for a given disease. _Jamque opus exegi._" [3] "In the mean time it may suffice for the physician to know the effects of a medicine when applied to the body, though he knows not the particular manner whereby it acts."--_Van Sweiten's Commentaries on Boerhaave_, vol. i. p. 394. [4] "Every branch of study which can at all claim the character of a science requires two things: 1. A correct ascertainment of the data from which we are to reason; and 2. Correctness in the process of deducing conclusions from them."--_Whateley's Elements of Logic._ [5] There is no doubt that the small veins which ramify outside the coats of the stomach and intestines are capable of taking up any matters in a state of proper solution, even fats when dissolved in alkali. But are medicines ever taken up by the lacteal absorbents? Probably seldom or never; for it seems that these vessels are only engaged after a full meal, and subsequent to the regular formation of chyle. They do not exist in the coat of the stomach, but commence in the small intestine at some distance from the pylorus. [6] It may be of some use if I adduce here a characteristic example of each of the great groups of medicines to which I have alluded above: CLASS I. _Hæmatics._ Div. 1. Restoratives. Iron, in Anæmia. Div. 2. Catalytics. Mercury, in Syphilis. CLASS II. _Neurotics._ Div. 1. Stimulants. Ammonia. Div. 2. Narcotics. Opium. Div. 3. Sedatives. Hydrocyanic Acid. CLASS III. _Astringents._ Tannic Acid. CLASS IV. _Eliminatives._ Cantharides, and Croton Oil.