Merck's 1899 Manual of the Materia Medica — A Closer Reading

ANALYSES FOR...PHYSICIANS

By the Analytic Laboratories of Merck & Co. New York

_Examinations of Water, Milk, Blood, Urine, Sputum, Pus, Food Products, Beverages, Drugs, Minerals, Coloring Matters, etc., for diagnostic, prophylactic, or other scientific purposes._

All analyses at these Laboratories are so conducted as to assure the best service attainable on the basis of the latest scientific developments. The laboratories are amply supplied with a perfect quality of reagent materials, and with the most efficient constructions of modern apparatus and instruments. The probable cost for some of the most frequently needed researches is approximately indicated below:

Sputum, for tuberculosis bacilli, $3.00 Urine, for tuberculosis bacilli, 3.00 Milk, for tuberculosis bacilli, 3.00 Urine, qualitative, for one constituent, 1.50 Urine, qualitative, for each additional constituent, 1.00 Urine, quantitative, for each constituent, 3.00 Urine, sediment, microscopical, 1.50 Blood, for ratio of white to red corpuscles, 2.00 Blood, for Widal's typhoid reaction, 2.00 Water, for general fitness to drink, 10.00 Water, for typhoid germs, 25.00 Water, quantitative determination of any one constituent, 10.00 Pus, for gonococci, 3.00

The cost for other analyses--more variable in scope--can only be given upon closer knowledge of the requirements of individual cases.

All pharmacists in every part of the United States will receive and transmit orders for the MERCK ANALYTIC LABORATORIES.

_Physicians are earnestly requested to communicate to Merck & Co., University Place, New York, any suggestions that may tend to improve this book for its Second Edition, which will soon be in course of preparation._

_Whatever the Publishers can do to make Merck's Manual of still greater service to the Medical Profession will be gladly undertaken and promptly performed for all subsequent editions._

_Therefore, any Physician who will propose improvements in the subject-matter (especially as regards the Newer Materia Medica), or in the arrangement, style, and form of this work, for future editions, will thus be rendering valuable service, not only to its Publishers, but to the entire Profession as well!_

Transcriber's Note: Minor typographical errors have been corrected without note. Irregularities and inconsistencies in the text have been retained as printed. Text printed in italics is noted with underscores (_italics_) and text printed in bold is noted with tildes (~bold~). An apothecaries' symbol for 'minim' is used in some parts of the text and [min.] is used in place of the symbol. Numbers printed as subscripts are noted by being enclosed within braces (H{2}O{2}).

_"Multum in Parvo"_ PRICE, $1.00

TOGETHER WITH A SUMMARY OF THERAPEUTIC INDICATIONS AND A CLASSIFICATION OF MEDICAMENTS

A READY-REFERENCE POCKET BOOK

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.