Rational Pharmaceutics, Part 1

SECTION I. CHAPTER I.

Outline of the Entire Work.

What the beginnings of medicine were, page 1. What its progress was, page 2. An etiology original: "Ætiologia"; the study of causes or the "why" behind how things work of medicinal operations is desired and deserves consideration, same page. The locations of these operations are noted, page 3. Their subjects are the spirits subtle, invisible fluids thought to carry life and transmit nerve signals, both those that inhabit the primary passages original: "primas vias"; the digestive tract and those that inhabit the brain and nerves: same page. And the humors the vital bodily fluids, namely the blood and its waste products, as well as the nervous fluid, page 4. In every kind of pharmacy, three things must be considered. First, the power of the medicine and its mode of operation. Second, its types and selected formulas. Third, the method of its preparation, page 5.

SECTION I. CHAPTER II.

Description of the Primary Passages.

The primary passages the digestive tract are called the esophagus, the stomach, and the intestines, page 6. In these, the immediate subjects of pharmacy are the spirits and humors; the indirect subjects are the fibers and membranes, same page. The layers original: "tunicæ"; literally coats or coverings of the esophagus are described, page 7. The inner nervous layer, same page; which, besides the downy crust the mucous membrane, is also covered by a glandular coat with a net-like plexus original: "plexus retiformis"; a branching network of vessels or nerves of vessels, just as in the stomach and intestines. The use of this layer is shown, same page. The middle layer of the esophagus. The fleshy or muscular layer serves movement, same page. There are two orders of these fibers, page 8. The outermost layer of the esophagus is described; and of the individual...