Page 5 - Pharmacy History 31 Mar 2007

The Dental Student and Technical Course in Rhyme
From Terry Sutcliff (Our “Black Cap” correspondent)
Materia medica and pharmacy by rhyme
The Dental Student and Technical Course in Rhyme, a fascinating book which I have just acquired, was to assist dental and medi- cal students as well as practitioners, and aid them in reading and understanding any text- book on the subject of dentistry. It was writ- ten by J.T Tunnock D.D.S and published in Melbourne in 1909; it covers for our interests easily memorized rhyme for dental materia medica and pharmacology.
Tunnock was the Principal of the Inter- state Dental College, Sydney NSW, and the publication of this 343 page book followed from repeated requests for copies of his course material that had brought much success to students under my care.
Another Black Cap!
I shall now hand over to the Bard of the Botany Bay to guide us through his prosaic defi- nitions of materia medica and pharmacology, and then further reprint a sprinkling of his quaint drug definitions all in rhyme.
Materia Medica
Materia Medica is that branch of Medical Science shown which describes all the methods and substances known; Yes, all therapeutical agents it is possible to mention Employed in the treatment of Disease, its cure or prevention.
Pharmacology
Pharmacology is a science of very great significance’s
It is a treatise on the doctrine of therapeutical medicaments; Now a knowledge of Drugs, as a matter of course,
A dentist should gain in his technical course.
A Dentist in practice on reflection will find
Under the three headings his treatments is usually confined,
First in the treatment of Bacteria wherever located, The use of Antiseptics are at once indicated. Second, to know how to relieve and treat pain
A knowledge of anaesthetics he should gain.
The third deals with astringents, which cause contraction, A dentist should know both their value and action. Nearly all Dental therapeutical agents we find
Can, under one of these headings, be fairly defined. Although some agents posses such as virtue in fact,
That in each of the three they’ll with good results act. There are also a few agents we will shortly see
Which cannot be classified with any one of the three These, as true therapeutical agents we find,
Under one of two headings, may be easily defined.
volume 3 ■ no 31 ■ MARCH 2007
Pharmacy History Australia ■ 5