extinguished and forgotten amid the war of opinions which was subsequently kindled by the _aphorisms_ of Boerhaave. About this time we find Dr. Pitcairn mixing up this idea with his mechanical notions, in a treatise "On the Cure of Fevers by Evacuation." Huxham also, in 1729, maintained similar principles. At the present day a more enlarged view is adopted. It is admitted that we may often assist these attempts of nature at a cure, and do good by the use, when thus needed, of evacuant medicines; but at the same time we must allow that there are many other advantageous modes of treatment,--that we may sometimes cut short a disease in the blood, or relieve a disorder by controlling vascular or nervous excitement, without resorting to elimination at all. _f._ M. Broussais was one of the first who rightly maintained that many medicines were of use by means of an _alterative_ or _revulsive_ action, by producing a distinct effect which diverted the attention of the system from the disease. His followers have classed remedies under three heads,--as _Stimulants_, _Debilitants_, and _Revulsives_. He maintained also some other peculiar ideas. Blood-medicines are commonly termed _Alteratives_, from the notion that they divert or alter the original disease by setting up in the system a peculiar process of their own. The term _Revulsive_ is especially applied to medicines which produce a powerful local effect, and are supposed so to occupy the attention of the system as to tend to cure the disease which formerly engaged it. Counter-irritants externally, and emetics among internal medicines, are generally admitted as revulsives. The idea of revulsion is a prominent feature in the arrangement of medicines adopted by Dr. Schultz, of Berlin, who adds to the above, Expectorants, Purgatives, Diuretics, and Sudorifics. He divides medicines into _Biolytics_, tending to dissolve life and structure; _Anabiotics_, which tend to stimulate the same; and _Agonistics_, tending to produce a "defensive" process, and acting by revulsion. Each class is again divided into those which affect the organs and nutrition in general; those which act on the blood; and those which particularly influence the nerves. I will give examples of each. SCHULTZ'S CLASSIFICATION. A. BIOLYTICA. (_Depressents._) 1. Plastilytica. (Mercury, Alteratives.) 2. Hæmatolytica. (Acids, Alkalies.) 3. Neurolytica. (Sedatives.) B. ANABIOTICA. (_Excitants._) 1. Plastibiotica. (Astringents.) 2. Hæmatobiotica. (Diffusible stimulants.) 3. Neurobiotica. (Opium, Strychnia.) C. AGONISTICA. (_Revulsives._) 1. Plastagonistica. (Purgatives, etc.) 2. Hæmatagonistica. (Irritants.) 3. Neuragonistica. (Emetics, Expectorants.)