The London dispensatory, containing: I, the elements of pharmacy; II, the botanical description ... and medicinal properties, of the substances of the materia medica; III, the pharmaceutical preparations and compositions of the pharmacopoeias of the London, Edinburgh, and Dublin Colleges of Physicians / By Anthony Todd Thomson.

  • Thomson, Anthony Todd, 1778-1849.
Date:
1830
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: The London dispensatory, containing: I, the elements of pharmacy; II, the botanical description ... and medicinal properties, of the substances of the materia medica; III, the pharmaceutical preparations and compositions of the pharmacopoeias of the London, Edinburgh, and Dublin Colleges of Physicians / By Anthony Todd Thomson. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    concur with that gentleman in thinking that the reform was unnecessary, or now, when it is accomplished, that it is not likely to be generally adopted. It is, indeed, deeply to be lamented, that a work issuing from so respectable and learned a body as the London College is acknowledged to be, is not more perfect in its execution: but, nevertheless, its nomen- clature is much superior to that of its predecessor ; and within the scope of my own observation, as well as from information which I have received from others, it is now coming into very general use. Many of the older physicians already write their prescriptions in the reformed language ; and it is so congenial with the habits of thinking, and the ordinary language and mode of writing of the younger practitioners, that there is no doubt of its being readily adopted by them.! The best authors have been consulted regarding the medi- cinal properties and uses of the various substances treated of; but I must confess that less attention has been given to this, as it is not intended that the practice of medicine should be taught by a Dispensatory; and surely little is to be expected from those who would attempt to acquire it from such a source. As memorandums, however, I have been anxious to make the medica! notices as correct as possible; and have, in most instances, given references to the works from which the best information on this part of the subject may be ob- tained. | After all my efforts, however, to avoid errors, I am sensible that the work may, nevertheless, contain many ; I have, there- fore, determined to lend a willing ear to the remarks of candid criticism; and, in future editions, to take advantage of every ‘suggestion that may tend to bring it nearer to that state of perfection, the attainment of which must afford more satisfac- tion to an author than all the indiscriminate praise which can be lavished upon his labours. I might, indeed, plead as an apology for its imperfections, that the work has not been pre- pared in the repose of retirement, and with an abundance of leisure ; but, on the contrary, that I have been able to bestow LL LLL 1 The experience of five years has fully confirmed these anticipations.