omposition. Even prescriptions are usually
written in a language unintelligible to anybody but the druggist. As
much secrecy is employed as in the preparation of proprietary medicines.
Does the fact that an article is prepared by a process known only to the
manufacturer render that article less valuable? How many physicians know
the elementary composition of the remedies which they employ, some of
which never have been analyzed? Few practitioners know how morphine,
quinine, podophyllin, leptandrin, pepsin, or chloroform, are made, or
how nauseous drugs are transformed into palatable elixirs; yet they do
not hesitate to employ them. Is it not inconsistent to use a
prescription the composition of which is unknown to us, and discard
another preparation simply because it is accompanied by a printed
statement of its properties with directions for its use?

Various journals in this country, have at different times published
absurd formulae purporting to be receipts for the preparation of "Dr.
Sage's Catarrh Remedy" and Dr. Pierce's standard medicines, which, in
most instances, have not contained a single ingredient which enters into
the composition of these celebrated remedies.

In the manufacture of any pharmaceutical preparation, two conditions are
essential to its perfection, viz: purity and strength of the materials,
and appropriate machinery. The first is insured, by purchasing the
materials in large quantities, whereby the exercise of greater care in
selecting the ingredients can be afforded; and the second can only be
accomplished where the business is extensive enough to warrant a large
outlay of capital in procuring proper chemical apparatus. These facts
apply with especial force to the manufacture of our medicines, their
quality having been vastly improved since the demand has become so great
as to require their manufacture in very large quantities. Some persons,
while admitting that our medicines are good pharmaceutical compounds,
object to them on the ground that they are too often used with
insufficient judgment. We propose to obviate that difficulty by
enlightening the people as to the structure and functions of their
bodies, the causes, character, and symptoms of disease, and by
indicating the proper and judicious employment of our medicines,
together with such auxiliary treatment as may be necessary. Such is one
of the designs of this volume.

PROPERTIES OF MEDICINE.

It is generally conceded that the