MERCK'S 1899 MANUAL
OF THE
MATERIA MEDICA

Together with a Summary of Therapeutic Indications and a Classification of Medicaments

A READY-REFERENCE POCKET BOOK

FOR THE

Practicing Physician

CONTAINING

Names and Chief Synonyms, Physical Form and Appearance, Solubilities,
Percentage Strengths and Physiological Effects, Therapeutic
Uses, Modes of Administration and Application,
Regular and Maximum Dosage, Incompatibles,
Antidotes, Precautionary Requirements,
etc., etc.,—of the

CHEMICALS AND DRUGS USUAL IN MODERN MEDICAL PRACTICE

Compiled from the Most Recent Authoritative Sources and Published by

MERCK & CO., NEW YORK

Copyright by Merck & Co., New York, 1899

MERCK'S MANUAL is designed to meet a need which every general practitioner has often experienced. Memory is treacherous. It is particularly so with those who have much to do and more to think of. When the best remedy is wanted, to meet indications in cases that are a little out of the usual run, it is difficult, and sometimes impossible, to recall the whole array of available remedies so as to pick out the best. Strange to say, too, it is the most thoroughly informed man that is likely to suffer to the greatest extent in this way; because of the very fact that his mind is overburdened. But a mere reminder is all he needs, to make him at once master of the situation and enable him to prescribe exactly what his judgment tells him is needed for the occasion.

In MERCK'S MANUAL the physician will find a complete Ready-Reference Book covering the entire eligible Materia Medica. A glance over it just before or just after seeing a patient will refresh his memory in a way that will facilitate his coming to a decision. In this book, small as it is, he will find the essential data found in the ponderous Dispensatories, together with the facts of newest record, which can appear only in future editions of those works.

Part I affords at a glance a descriptive survey, in one alphabetic series, of the entire Materia Medica to-day in general use by the American profession. Part II contains a summary of Therapeutic Indications for the employment of remedies, arranged according to the Pathologic Conditions to be combated. Part III presents a Classification of Medicaments in accordance with their Physiologic Actions.

The publishers may be allowed to state that they have labored long and earnestly, so to shape this little volume that it shall prove a firm and faithful help to the practitioner in his daily round of duty. They now send it forth in the confident hope that, the more it is put to the test of actual use, the more it will grow in the esteem of its possessor.

CONTENTS.

Pages 9 to 82.

Part First.—THE MATERIA MEDICA, as in actual use to-day by American Physicians. (Alphabetically arranged.)

This part embraces all those Simple Medicinal Substances (that is, drugs and chemicals) which are in current and well-established use in the medical practice of this country; or which, if too recently introduced to be as yet in general use, are vouched for by eminent authorities in medical science;—also, the medicinally employed Pharmaceutic Preparations recognized by the United States Pharmacopœia.

There has also been included, under the title of "Foods and Dietetic Preparations," a list of such preparations as are frequently prescribed for infants' diet, or for the sick or convalescent.

Omitted from the Materia Medica chapter are: Medicaments that have become obsolete, or that are too rarely used to be of general interest; and such new remedies as are not yet safely accredited on reliable authority; also those galenic preparations (syrups, extracts, pills, essences, elixirs, wines, emulsions, etc.) which are not standardized according to the U.S. Pharmacopœia; likewise all articles that are put up and advertised for self-medication by the lay public.

Separate Titles in the alphabetic series are accorded, as a rule, to the botanical drugs and other pharmaceutical mother-substances, to proximate principles (alkaloids, glucosides, organic acids, etc.), and to chemical compounds (salts, "synthetics," etc.); while the official galenic preparations, solutions and dilutions, derived from them, are mostly mentioned under the titles of their respective mother-substances. (Thus, for instance, "Dover's Powder" will be found under "Opium," while "Morphine" is described under its own title.)

Pages 83 to 184.

Part Second.—THERAPEUTIC INDICATIONS for the use of the Materia Medica and other agents. (Arranged alphabetically under the titles of the various Pathologic Conditions.)

This part summarizes in brief form, the principal means of treatment for each form of disease, as reported to be in good use with practitioners at the present time. The statements hereon are drawn from the standard works of the leading modern writers on Therapeutics, and supplemented—in the case of definite chemicals of more recent introduction—by the reports of reputable clinical investigators.

Pages 185 to 192.

Part Third.—CLASSIFICATION OF MEDICAMENTS according to their Physiologic Actions. (Arranged alphabetically under the titles of the Actions.)

This part recapitulates, for ready survey, such statements as are already given in "Part I," as to the modes of action of the various medicaments.

INDEX.