given series of phenomena which may be easily recognised at the bedside.

This line of reasoning has led me to conclude that for practical purposes the Homœopathic Materia Medica should be studied directly in relation to pathological states, and that the knowledge of the entire action of any medicine should be left as the ultimate result of a completed study of pathological phenomena. I believe that in this way alone we shall be able to separate the essential from the unimportant, and that our advance will be much more secure; while at the same time a judicious division of labour might be brought to bear upon the subject, in such a manner that each person's work may be utilized by his colleagues. It is my purpose, during the remainder of the time allotted for this paper, to sketch in outline how such a study should be conducted.

1. The first requisite is to make a list of what may be termed physiological equivalents, for the purpose of enabling us to interpret symptoms and their conditions, and to determine their physiological import. This may be regarded as speculative and dangerous, and it certainly must be conducted with due caution; nevertheless, I feel satisfied that it can be done, and I have myself repeatedly felt the advantage of it. In practice we are in the daily habit of translating the symptoms observed in our patients into physiological language; and upon this we found our diagnosis. Precisely in the same way must we examine the records of our provings; and if we once succeed in forming the code of equivalents to which I have referred, we shall find this a much easier matter than it has hitherto been. To take a very simple example. We all know how important the time of day at which a symptom appears, or is aggravated, becomes in the choice between two similar and otherwise equally indicated medicines. Now so long as we seek no interpretation of such differences we must retain them in our memory as isolated facts. If, on the contrary, we bring to bear on their interpretation the investigations of M. Spring upon the diurnal variations of temperature, pulse, and respiration, we shall discover that from 3 to 9 A.M. and from 1 to 5 P.M. are periods of functional increase, while from 9 A.M. to 1 P.M. and from 6 P.M. to 3 A.M. are times of diminished functional activity.

We shall further discover that these differences are by

no means trifling, since M. Spring has observed no less than 3 degrees F. difference in temperature, 10-20 beats difference in the pulse, and 3-4 in the number of respirations per minute; while the exhalation of carbonic acid and of watery vapour, and also the activity of absorption, are found to vary in like manner. Applying this knowledge to our remedies, we conclude that those which present aggravations between 3 and 9 A.M., or between 1 and 5 P.M., exert their influence especially during a state of great functional activity; while those which produce symptoms or aggravations between 6 P.M. and 3 A.M., or between 9 A.M. and 1 P.M., do so by disturbing the comparative rest which the various functions of circulation, respiration and tissue change should then enjoy. Further, an enquiry into the particular symptoms aggravated, or the general action of a medicine, will, in conjunction with the above facts, shed considerable light upon the method of distinguishing between two remedies whose aggravation may occur at or about the same time. For example, lycopodium and nur vom. both have aggravations in the early morning, during a period of functional increase; but lycopodium, as a vegetative remedy, acts most powerfully on the nutritive changes of the body, while nux vom., expending its influence in a large measure on the spinal cord, influences chiefly nervous phenomena. I have only time to give this one illustration, but others will readily suggest themselves to any one who examines into the subject; and it will be found that in this manner every addition to our physiological knowledge can be at once utilized by us in interpreting the actions of medicines. may here refer, as a case in point, to the very instructive remarks by Dr. Drysdale on the influence of china and ferrum upon the processes connected with sanguification, by which so much light is thrown upon the action of the former in removing the consequences of loss of blood or humours, and of the latter in influencing the increase of red corpuscles, even where no chemical explanation will suffice. Not only should all "conditions" be thus analysed and interpreted, but an attempt should be made to interpret each symptom, so as to comprehend its exact physiological significance; an investigation of considerable difficulty, but yet holding out prospects of value sufficient to encourage an earnest prosecution of the work.

I

2. Having in this manner laid the foundation of our

research, I would suggest the following plan of proceeding. Select some organ or tissue, and by the aids of physiology and pathology define accurately the various morbid conditions to which it is liable, and detail the symptoms, as far as possible, to which these various conditions give rise. Then examine the records of our provings, and ascertain what remedies present these symptoms in their pathogenesies; and here the student will find much of the preliminary labour done for him in the various therapeutic works which have already been published, especially in such works as those of Kafka, Hughes, and Bähr. He will there find what remedies are already known to act upon the organ or tissue that he is studying, and will thus be enabled at once to examine the best and most frequently used drugs. With pen in hand, let him note down the physiological meaning of each symptom connected with the organ in question, at first limiting his observations to the anatomical seat of the morbid change. Then going over the ground a second time, let him note the kind of action elicited by the drug; whether it be a mere increase or diminution of its natural function, or whether that function is perverted, so that a result qualitatively different from what it should be has occurred; and further, in the case of such perverted function, the course and extent of the change should be noted. Another examination should then be commenced for the purpose of noting especially the conditions and concomitants of all these changes. For the purpose of comparing different medicines together, it is very necessary that all the particulars herein referred to should be noted in a given order, such order having been determined upon when drawing up the physiological and pathological schema of the organ.

I will endeavour now to illustrate this by an example. Let us suppose the student to be engaged in studying the various diseases of the mucous membrane. His first step will be to obtain a correct knowledge of the anatomy, physiology and pathology of this membrane, and especially he should note the differences observed in the tendencies to disease and in the order of pathological changes in the different sections of this membrane. Having arranged a schema embodying the knowledge thus acquired, we will suppose he takes up the morbid condition known as catarrh, and first endeavours to ascertain what medicines stand in specific relation with this disease as occurring in

the naso-pulmonary mucous membrane. 1. He will first arrange them according to the parts of this tract which they are known to affect, and he will find that euphrasia acts especially on the mucous membranes of the eyes and nose, while allium cepa acts on the nose and eyes. The order is here reversed, because the action of euphrasia appears to commence in the conjunctiva, and certainly attains a higher degree of intensity there, while allium cepa exerts a more decidedly irritant effect on the Schneiderian membrane and acts much less powerfully on the conjunctiva. In proof of which we find in euphrasia acrid tears and bland nasal mucus, while in alliun cepa the tears are bland and the nasal mucus is acrid and irritating.

Besides these, the student will find arsenic acting pretty equally on both eyes and nose, and extending its effects to the larynx and trachea; mercurius causing symptoms of acute nasal catarrh, while its conjunctival symptoms are more related to the subacute and chronic inflammations of that membrane; iodine and iodide of potassium acting powerfully on the nose, but extending its influence well down into the larynx; and nur vom. interfering with the secretion of the nasal mucous membrane, while apparently exerting but little influence on the state of the membrane itself. He will ascertain further that rumex crispus, nitric acid, ipecac., ammonia, bromine, antimony, spongia, hepar, caust., kali bichr., and many others irritate in different degrees the larynx and trachea. bryonia, squilla, phos. and some others seem to commence their irritation in the trachea and larger bronchi, and some of these, as kali bichr., merc. corr., ant. tart., and phos. and ammon. carb. extend their influence to the smaller bronchial tubes, while two of them, viz., ant. tart. and phos., do not limit their irritation to the bronchial ramifications, but act upon the parenchyma of the lung itself.

Again,

2. Looking now to the kind of action, the student will find by reference to his physiological schema that mucous membranes are liable to the following changes:-The membrane may become simply dry, owing to exhalation becoming checked; or it may be dry and irritable, owing to its nerves being implicated in the change; or it may be dry and red, owing to its receiving an abnormal supply of blood-which increase may depend either upon simple. relaxation of small arteries consequent upon vaso-motor

depression, or by overfilling of the capillaries caused by tissue attraction; or, finally, it may be dry and swollen, owing to effusion of serum into the connective tissue. On the other hand, the mucous membrane may be over-moist, and this moisture may be simple excess of watery exhalation-a condition analogous to sweating; or excess of mucus, owing to the epithelial scales being set free while still retaining their primitive rounded form, in which they are undistinguishable from mucous corpuscles; or effusion of serum from over-distended capillaries; or sero-mucus from a combination of the two last conditions; or ichorous where interstitial waste of tissue is excessive; or mucopus from fatty degeneration of mucous corpuscles; or viscid adhesive mucus from a certain admixture of fibrinoid matter in the excretion. Again, the surface of the membrane may be encrusted with exudations too solid to be washed away, and these encrustations may be simply coagulated lymph, as in membranous croup; or modified epithelium, as in membranous dysmenorrhea; or possessing a character sui generis, as in diphtheria; or, finally, the surface of the mucous membrane may have been destroyed, giving rise to all the known varieties of ulceration, from simple excoriation to phagedæna and sphacelus.

Possessing a correct knowledge of all these varieties, he will then allocate his several medicines according to the condition of membrane which he finds they have produced. I need scarcely mention that several of these conditions of mucous membrane will often be found in one proving. But this will form no practical difficulty, since it will always depend upon one of two things; either the different conditions are in reality different stages of one and the same pathological process, or the remedy is capable of producing these different conditions in persons having different pathological tendencies (dormant diseases); and as I have already remarked, if it can produce these varied conditions, it can also cure them. For example, dryness of mucous membrane will be found under alum, benzoic acid, iodine, nux v., spong., sticta, &c. Dryness with irritation under laches., nitr. acid, rumex crispus, senega, &c. Dryness and redness in bell., bry., ars., phos., &c. Dryness and œdema in apis. Increased moisture from active exhalation is found under sambucus, dulc., and ammon. carb. Excess of mucus under ammon. mur., ant. C., squill., merc., &c. Serous discharge under solania and