ARRANGEMENT.-Some Authors place their medicines alphabetically, bali, decreta, deltaria, emuifiones, &c.—others place them under diftinét heads, without regard to this order, conferva, fucci, extracta, dicola, &c.—thefe differences may be seen by turning to the London, Edinburgh, and a variety of other Pharmacopoeia. Dr. Berkenhout diftributes his formula, agreeable to their fuppofed operation, under the following heads; the adftringentia, alterantia, antacida, anthelmintica, antiphlogistica, antifeptica, attenuantia, cardiaca, carminativa, cathartica, demulcentia, desbruentia, detergentia, diaphoretica, diuretica, emetica, expectorantia, menagoga, fedativa anodyna, sedativa antifpafmodica, stimulantia, ftomachica, tonica.-Much has been faid by medical writers concerning the operation of medicines, and different divifions and different terms have been introduced, correfponding to their different theories and methods of reafoning. Inquiries however of this kind are attended with many difficulties; and from the advances hitherto made, it is evident, that this part of medicine

far from being compleatly understood, either in a practical or fcientific manner. It has been but too common, to multiply terms, without adding to the ftock of real knowledge.-Let Dr. Berkenhout turn to the heads under which he has claffed his medicines-let him endeavour to give exact definitions of the terms he has adopted :-let him take the alterantia, attenuentia, deobftruentia, detergentia, diaphoretica, menagoga, and so characterife each of thefe that they may be philosophically and practically diftinguifbed from each other; and he will be fenfible of the difficulty here pointed out.

As a farther proof of the fallacy of thus multiplying terms, we may obferve that the very fame medicine is given under different heads, and by being thus repeated becomes an ufelefs addition to the bulk of the work.-We have the fame prescription for inftance, under the

Antifeptica.

R. Camphor. gr. x.

G. Arab. j.

Syr. e Cort. Aurant. q. s. f. bolus.

Antifpafmod. R. Camphor, gr. x.

Gum. Arab. 9 j.

Syr. Mecon. q. s. f. bolus.

Diaphoretica R. Camphor. gr. viij.

We have under the

Alterantia.

Gum. Arab. 9 j.

Syr. Zingib. q. s. f. bolus.

K. Tartar. emet. gr. ij.

Magn. Alb. 3fs. Contere diu in mort. marm. ut f. pulv. fubtiliff. Dof. gr. iv. ―ad x.

Diaphoretica.

Diaphoretica. R. Tartar. emet. gr. ij.

Magn. Alb. 3fs. quam optime terentur ut f. pulv. fubtiliff. Dofis gr. iv. ad xiv. This redundancy of compofitions frequently occurs in this work, and is the neceffary confequence of adopting a variety of terms not fufficiently diftinguished.If terms like these are to be retained, a more eligible way of managing those that are synonymous, is that of the Pharmacopoeia Pauperum Edinburgi,a Pharmacopoeia which deserves much commendation for the fimplicity and efficacy of the formula: these terms are here thrown into the index, and, with the catalogue of difeafes, form the Index Morborum et Medicamentorum.

COMPOSITION.-The vol. falts are directed in the form of bolus, electary, and powder.

R. Sal. corn. cerv. gr. x.
Conferv. rofar. 9j.

Syr. zingib. q. s. f. bolus.

R. Sal. corn. cerv. gr. xv.
Conferv. rofar. q. s. f. bolus.

R. Rob. famb. 3 ij.

Sal. corn. cerv. 3 ij. f. electariam.

R. Serpent. virg. rad pulv.

j.

Sal. corn. cerv. gr. viij. f. pulvis pro dofi.

Was there no other objection to giving the vol. falts in these forms, but the uncertainty of the dofe, it would be fufficient. It is not usual to order very expenfive articles in large quantities.

Sp. fal. amm. dulc. 3 j.

Ol. cinnam. gt. L. dol. gr. xxx. in quovis ve

hiculo.

This little mixture muft coft the apothecary five fhillings, and yet many patients would think it over-charged at half a

crown.

DOSES.-Many practitioners would confider one fifth, or one fixth part of a grain of the merc. fubl. corrof. diffolved in half an ounce of spirit, as a very small dose.

R. Merc. fubl. corrof. gr. vi.

Spt. vin. gall. b j. f. folut. dof. cochl. j.

Or two or three drops of the fpir. vitriol. ten.

R. Aq. cinnam. fimpl. 3 v.

fpt. 3 j

Spt. vitriol. ten. 3j.

Syr. diacod. j. f. julep. dof. coch. j. omni hora,

Or fifteen grains of the fal. glaub. added to a cathartic.

R. Flor. fulphur. lot.

Sal. glaub. a. gr. xv.

Elect. lenitiv. q. s. f. bolus.

Ee 3

Our

Our Author, in his catalogue of the medicamenta fimplicia, thug

dofes the fcammonium :

dof. min.

gr. v.

med. extrem.

and yet in

the following formula he orders 3j. of the fcammon. which is, five grains more than his extreme dofe; and quickens it likewife with 9j. of the gum. guaiac.

R. Scammon.

Gum. guaiac. (vitel. ovi folut.) ä ¦ j.
Aq. Alex. fimpl. 3 ij.

nuc. mofch.

Syr. croci a 3j. f. Hauft. Hydrag.

A decoction of the dulcamara, and aconitum et colchicum autumnal, two of Dr. Storck's poisonous plants, are among the number of our Author's formulæ; thefe, as they may be new to fome of our medical readers, we fhall transcribe.

R. Dulcamar. ramar, lignor. ij. coque. ex aq.

fontan. Ib j. ad Ibis. cola et mifce cum

Sero lactis, p. æ. pro quatuor dofibus omni die exhibend.

R. Aconit. extract. gr. iv.

Sacchar. alb. 3fs. Contere diu ut f. pulvis subtiliff. Dof. gr. x.-3j.

R. Colchic. autumnal. rad. rec. 3j.

Aceti bj. Digere lento igne per 48 horas et cola.

R. Aceti colchic. Ibj.

Mel. pur. bij. mifce et fupra moll. ign. fæpius agitando cochl. ligneo, coque ad mellis confiftentiam. Oxym. dof. 3j. bis ad 4ter in die in vehiculo quovis dilut.

Upon the whole, we apprehend the Author of the Pharmacopoeia Medici, to be a young physician of spirit and abilities, whofe genius hath taken a right turn, and who will probably diftinguish himself in his profeffion.

A Difquifition on Medicines that diffolve the Stone; in which, Dr. Chittick's Secret is difcovered and confidered. By Alexander Blackrie. 12mo. 25. Willon.

Taffected, more dreadful than the stone in the bladder,

HERE being no disease, with which the human body is.

and the only certain remedy which has hitherto been difcovered, being a painful and dangerous operation, it is no wonder, that mankind fhould have been fo conftantly folicitous to difcover a remedy which by diffolving the ftone, fhould render the opera

tion unneceffary. Many have been the medicines which in different periods, have been fuppofed to poffefs this virtue; and great was the reward, which one perfon in particular received from the legislature of this kingdom for the promulgation of her lithontriptic fecret; nevertheless fubfequent experience hath taught us, that, like many other fecrets, it was of little or no value as foon as it became known. Various experiments have been made in order to discover a menftruum capable of diffolving the human calculus out of the body, fome of which have been found adequate to the intent; but the general misfortune is, that these menftrua are of two acrid a nature for internal exhibition. Befides, our doubts are greatly augmented, when we confider the difficulty of conveying a fufficient quantity of any medicine whatever to the place where it is intended to operate. Be this as it may, it is pretty generally known, that one Dr. Chittick hath, for fome time, continued to exhibit a medicine for the stone, which, it is faid, hath been frequently attended with fuccefs. This medicine he keeps a profound fecret; infomuch that he never entrufts it with any of his patients till he himself has mixt it with the vehicle in which it is to be taken. The Author of this pamphlet, it seems, has been at uncommon pains to discover the compofition of this valuable medicine, and having at length accomplished his defign, he now communicates the result of his enquiries to the public, for the general benefit of those who have the misfortune to be afflicted with this difeafe. He first pubJifhed his opinion concerning this medicine in the Gentleman's Magazine for October 1763; but having fince that time advanced nearer to a certainty in this matter, he endeavours in the prefent performance to fatisfy the public more fully. He difcovered the fecret in the following manner: having procured fome of Dr. Chittick's medicated broth, upon tafting it, he perceived a ftrong flavour of tanfy, and afterwards, very plainly, the effect of an alkaline matter upon his tongue. The alkali he supposes to be the medicine, and the tanfy added with an intention only to disguise it. Upon this fuppofition, he made fome veal-broth, gave it the tanfy flavour, and then diffolved in it various quantities of fixed alkaline falts, and thus produced a liquor fimilar in taste to that of the Doctor, yet fomewhat different. Not quite fatisfied with his first trial, he now added quicklime to the fixed alkali, and thus obtained a liquor fo exacly refembling Dr. Chittick's medicine, that the niceft tafte could not diftinguish one from the other. Being, however, unwilling to reft his opinion entirely on this fimilarity of tafte, our Author next proceeds to try what effect would be produced by mixing Dr. Chittick's medicated broth with fyrup of violets, and finds that the blue colour was immediately changed to a green, an incontestible proof of an alkali in its compofition. He then repeated

the experiment with his own broth, and found exactly the fame appearance to be the confequence. But being determined to put the matter out of all doubt, he put two equal fragments of the fame calculus into equal quantities of each of these medicines, keeping both in the fame degree of heat, and found both fragments diffolved in the fame space of time. Upon these combined evidences he refts his proof, devoting the remainder of his pamphlet to remarks on the regimen obferved by the Doctor's patents, together with confiderations on his pretenfions to its being a new discovery and a more efficacious medicine than any other. In the courfe of thefe confiderations he proves that other phyficians, particularly Dr. Jurin, have been well acquainted with the lythontriptic virtues of foap-ley (Dr. Chittick's medicine being nothing elfe) and recommends that species of it which is prepared with two thirds of a pure fixed alkali, and one third of well calcined quicklime diffolved in a fufficient quantity of water; and with regard to the dofe, he recommends from 30 or 40 drops to a tea-fpoonful, or even two, twice or thrice a-day, according as the cafe may require, or the conftitution of the patient may admit. Having now finished this first part of his defign, the Author informs the public that he intends to publish a fecond part with all convenient fpeed, and concludes the prefent in the following manner.

Thus far I had proceeded by medical conjecture and chymical inveftigation, when, after the greateft part of this treatise was printed, I had an opportunity of making enquiry, and of afcertaining by teftimony what I had before advanced from probable deduction. The medicine which Dr. Chittick adminifters he does not deny that he inherits from his brother, who used it before him to his brother it was given, according to an account fent me from Ireland, by General Dunbar; I have received the genuine receipt in these words:

Take one tea-fpoonful of the ftrongeft foap-ley, mixed in two table-fpoonfuls of fweet milk, an hour before breakfast, and at going to bed. Before you take the medicine, take a sup of pure milk, and immediately after you have swallowed the medicine, take another. If you find this agrees with you for two or three days, you may add half as much more to the dose. This agrees exactly with fuch information as had been given me before by another hand.'

Upon the whole, the Author appearing to have no other motive in difclofing this fecret than the good of his fellow-creatures, the public are undoubtedly much obliged to him for this publication.

A Differtation