| CHAPTER I. | |
| Introductory Remarks | 13 |
| CHAPTER II. |
| On some of the more important Classifications of Medicines, and Opinions of Authors respecting their Actions | 29 |
| CHAPTER III. |
| On the General Modes of Action of Therapeutic Agents introduced into the Stomach; treated of in Ten Propositions | 60 |
| Prop. I. | 61 |
| That the great majority of medicines must obtain entry into the blood, or internal fluids of the body, before their action can be manifested. |
| Prop. II. | 68 |
| That the majority of medicines are capable of solution in the gastric or intestinal secretions, and pass without material change, by a process of absorption, through the coats of the stomach and intestines, to enter the capillaries of the Portal system of veins. |
| Prop. III. | 87 |
| That those medicines which are completely insoluble in water, and in the gastric and intestinal juices, cannot gain entrance into the circulation. |
| Prop. IV. | 90 |
| That some few remedial agents act locally on the mucous surface, either before absorption, or without being absorbed at all. That they are chiefly as follow:— |
| a. Irritant Emetics. |
| b. Stomach AnÆsthetics. |
| c. Irritant Cathartics. |
| Prop. V. | 98 |
That the medicine, when in the blood, must permeate the mass of the circulation, so far as may be required to reach the parts on which it tends to act.
That there are two possible exception to this rule:— |
| a. The production of sensation or pain at a distant point. |
| b. The production of muscular contraction at a distant point. |
| Prop. VI. | 103 |
| That while in the blood the medicine may undergo changes, which in some cases may, in others may not, affect its influence. That these changes may be— |
| a. Of Combination. |
| b. Of Reconstruction. |
| c. Of Decomposition. |
| Prop. VII. | 106 |
| That a first class of medicines, called HÆmatics, act while in the blood, which they influence. That thier action is permanent. |
| 1. That of these some, called Restoratives, act by supplying, or causing to be supplied, a material wanting; and may remain in the blood. |
| 2. That others, called Catalytics, act so as to counteract a morbid material or process; and must pass out of the body. |
| Prop. VIII. | 217 |
| That a second class of medicines, called Neurotics, act by passing from the blood to the nerves or nerve-centres, which they influence. That they are transitory in action. |
| 1. That of these some, called stimulants, act so as to exalt nervous force, in general or in particular. |
| 2. That others called Narcotics, act so as first to exalt nervous force, and then to depress it; and have also a special influence on the intellectual part of the brain. |
| 2. That others again, called Sedatives, act so as to depress nervous force, in general or in particular. |
| Prop. IX. | 256 |
| That a third class of medicines, called Astrigents, act by passing from the blood to muscular fibre, which they excite to contraction. |
| Prop. X. | 268 |
| That a fourth class of medicines, called Eliminatives, act by passing out the blood through the glands, which they excite to the performance of their functions. |
| CHAPTER IV. |
| On the Action of some of the more important Medicines in particular | 309 |
