[125]. Oribasius, a native of Sardes, lived in the fourth century; he was the friend and favourite of the Emperor Julian, under whom he had great authority, and acquired considerable wealth. It would be well for the profession of Physic, and for the public, if crowned heads generally evinced as much discrimination in the appointment and patronage of physicians.
[126]. Three-fourths at least of the Quack Medicines of the present day are remedies of this description, and are compounded according to such receipts.
[127]. Medical Logic. Edit. 2nd, p. 92.
[128]. The term sympathy has often been objected to, as being too figurative; it is certainly a metaphor taken from an affection of the mind, but, as Sir Gilbert Blane very justly remarks, the import of words ought either to be assumed conventionally according to a definition, or to be adhered to in the sense affixed to it by established usage; “by animal sympathy,” says he, “is not meant the intelligible principle of Stahl’s hypothesis, but that mutual influence of distant parts, so subtle and rapid as in some instances to be compared to thought or lightning; while in other instances it is an action more tardy and habitual.” Medical Logic, Edit. 2nd, p. 123. In the present work, I wish the reader to understand the term sympathy, wherever it may occur, in conformity with the above definition.
[129]. Colchicum, Squill, and many other vegetable diuretics, are of this nature.
[130]. The Indian Fig, (Cactus Opuntia,) when eaten, renders the urine of a bloody colour.
Rhubarb has likewise an effect upon the colour of this secretion.
[131]. This is probably the reason of many bodies producing but little effect upon the inferior animals. The vegetable eaters are certainly less affected by vegetable poisons than those animals who exclusively live upon animal substances: it is thus, that a rabbit can take a very large dose of opium without any ill effects, while half the same quantity would poison a dog. It is a curious fact, that a sound horse can take a very considerable portion of opium with impunity, but if he be weakened by previous disease, by strong purgatives, or by excessive bleeding, he is speedily destroyed by a much less dose; (See Bracy Clarke’s Reformed Pharmacopœia for Horses.) In this latter case, does it not appear that the fatal result depends upon the fact of the digestive organs having been disabled, by debility, from effecting that decomposition by which under ordinary circumstances, the drug is disarmed of its potency? What important lights might not be obtained by the institution of a series of well devised experiments upon the comparative effects of medicinal bodies upon man and other animals? The Physiologist has thus availed himself of the resources of the comparative anatomist, and I feel persuaded, that results equally beneficial to science would follow a similar inquiry in relation to the operation of medicines.
In the course of the present work, I hope to shew the truth of this position by some appropriate illustrations.
[132]. That the Vena Portarum constitutes one of the avenues through which certain extraneous bodies enter the circulating current, there cannot exist a doubt; but a series of well-devised experiments are greatly wanted for the elucidation of the subject. The Professors of Veterinary Medicine might on this occasion render us an important service by some comparative researches.