Book Review: Goodman and Gillman's The Pharmacological Basis of Therapeutics (1st ed, 1941)
I purchased this book online from a used book seller earlier this month, and it arrived at the local post office a couple of days ago. After braving a cold walk to and from the drug store (Shoppers Drug Mart and Canada Post got some sort of shifty agreement going), I tore open the parcel with nothing more than my bare hands and dumped into my lap the first edition of what is known to many as the bible of pharmacology. Thus, I fulfilled a life-long dream, and my existence was rendered somewhat more complete. After a quick inspection and subsequent sigh of relief (the name of some doctor in the front, but no annoying underlining or notes, and the binding is solid), I delved in. Well, actually, I made dinner and watched a bit of television first. I know my priorities.
This tome, among other things, serves as a fantastic time capsule for the state of pharmacology (and toxicology) in the late 1930s (it was published in 1941). There are three chapters on drugs used to kill syphilis, but no mention of penicillin. No discussion of statins or oral hypoglycemics, and no chapters on antidepressants, antivirals, immunomodulators, or cancer chemotherapy!
We've come a long way.
Goodman and Gillman actually took the time to write up a brief history for each the classes of drugs they describe in their book. I think it's my favourite part. Subsequent editions have have updated the history bits, but I like reading about what had transpired up until 1941. Incidentally, if any of you know of any good old pharmacology or toxicology history books, I'd love to hear from you.
All in all, completely out of date, but if you want a cool and relatively cheap old science book to help fill up your shelves and make you look interesting and sophisticated (read: both a science and old book nerd), search out this book.
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11 chemically inspired comments:
Ahhh, such a geeky delight! I have one too, along with old US Pharmacopoieas.
Another book to look for are old editions of _The Merck Manual_
What a fabulous idea to hunt down this gem. Not only is it a great piece of pharmacology history but it is an incredible resource, as you say, on history. Quite often, subsequent editions of G&G will refer to previous editions for greater detail on the history of drug classes. It's quite intriguing to see the development of each therapeutic class over time. I have a few editions but you've inspired me to try and collect every edition.
the book looks like it should have a pentagram on the back cover...
Where did you find it?
I bought it through AbeBooks.
I am totally getting an old Merck Index.
I can heartily recommend Clinical Psychopharmacology by Shepherd, Lader & Rodnight (I have the 1st ed from 1968). Its also a fantastic time-warp of a book, with equal footing given such things as LSD and Mescaline, as well as the more mainstream psychotropics. The tone of the writing is particulaly fun (on the subject of piperidyl benzilate compounds):
"The subjects percieve the experience as highly unpleasant, {..} though they remember little of the experience, they are loth to volunteer for further sessions"
Its also got a foreword written by Schild, which is pretty neat.
Have ordered a copy after reading your review Chris - can't wait for it to turn up!
So, turns out that Erowid has a great list of cool drug books.
so it's not a science book, but a sewing book of mine from 1927 says that "grease spots on woolen or silk may be removed by naphtha, gasoline, ether and chloroform. A good mixture for removing grease-spots is made from equal parts of alcohol, benzin and ether"
this is as sciencey as I can get for you Chris.
Ilana, it's sciencey enough!
People were seriously crazy back in those days. Ether and chloroform will knock you the heck out, not to mention the fact that they're flammable as all heck. Combine them with friggin' gasoline and naptha (a component of gasoline), and the fact that people lit lots of candles back then, and I imagine at least a couple of seamstresses managed to set themselves on fire.
not to mention all the ironing that was going on!
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