The Coming Work on Special Therapeutics.

Editor Ellingwood's Therapeutist:

I enclose some therapeutic facts which you can use as best suit your purpose. I look forward with much interest to the book you will publish on Special Therapeutics, incorporating the therapeutic facts of the family. I am in a position to appreciate fully the worth of such a book for, as a beginner, that section of Potter's Materia Medica treating special therapeutics, has been to me "A shelter in the time of storm." I think such a book will make a "hit" with practitioners of all schools. Indeed I cannot see how a subscriber to your journal can fail to purchase a copy. I have written to you before, regarding this book, and gave a suggestion. I do not wish to suggest too much but it is because my interest is so intense that I make the suggestions.

I wish to suggest: (1) That you do not spare any labor to give us a first class index.

(2) That you incorporate those tables you have been publishing, comparing indications, etc., of remedies of the same class. I sincerely hope you will have tables covering all remedies as classified, sail, in your illustrious Materia Medica. I derive much benefit from such tables, so does every practitioner.

(3) That in filling the gaps as you will have to do in order to aim at completion, you do not neglect to state what preparation you are prescribing. In your Materia Medica you often say so many "drops" of this, that and the other, without mentioning the specific preparation, fluid extract, tincture, etc. This is not a criticism. I have no doubt but that the eclectics generally understand you. But as you are writing for all classes of Eclectic and (like myself) non-eclectics, especial care should be taken in that respect.

M. SHADID, M. D.

Ellingwood's Therapeutist, Vol. 2, 1908, was edited by Finley Ellingwood M.D.