The authors have endeavored to set forth what is known of drug action — pharmacodynamics — as ascertained by exact methods of study, and to emphasize the uses of drugs that may be based thereon, also to call attention to empiric measures not based on known pharmacodynamic data but possessing reasonable evidence of usefulness. The drugs have been classified according to their chief uses, a clinical classification, having in view the need of practice, but always with due regard to chemistry and pharmacodynamics.
This interesting work is divided into six chapters. The first, which treats of the object and scope of the subject, including definitions, occupies approximately a score of pages. The second chapter discusses disease-recovery, embracing disease forms, the borderline conditions and the process of protection, defense and correction. Disease is defined as "the struggle for health, a state of strife between the organism and the disorganizing factors." The