Data_Sheet_2_The Decline and Fall of Materia Medica and the Rise of Pharmacology and Therapeutics in Veterinary Medicine.pdf

Materia Medica is a Latin term, relating to the history of pharmacy. It describes the sources (vegetable, animal and mineral), nature, preparation, and properties of substances or mixtures of substances, which were used as remedies for the treatment of diseases. Bourgelat authored the first veterinary Materia Medica book. This review describes the evolution and ultimate downfall of Materia Medica concepts and practices. Its survival for more than two millennia reflected the impact of religion and dogmas on therapy. The consignment of Materia Medica to history was signified by publication of the first modern book of veterinary pharmacology and therapeutics by Meyer Jones in 1953. Previously, the dominance of Materia Medica was linked to an hippiatry culture, which was shared with farriers and quacks. The Pasteurian and pharmacological revolutions of the second half of the nineteenth century led to its gradual abandonment. This review explains why the existence of authentically active substances, such as opioid analgesics, cardiotonics and general anesthetics either were not used for those actions or were badly prescribed, in part because of historical precedence and in part from lack of pathophysiological knowledge to justify rational use. The modern concept of dosage, in particular inter-species differences, was not understood. There were also major dogmas, supporting false indications, such as failure to recognize pain as a symptom to be treated, whereas inflammation was only a disease symptom involving excess of activity of the blood system, which had to be vigorously addressed by bleeding and purging. This review covers a well-defined period, ranging from Bourgelat, who wrote the first book of Materia Medica for veterinary studies to the first edition of Meyer Jones textbook in 1953, which marked the end of Materia Medica and the beginning of pharmacology in veterinary medicine.

药物本草学（Materia Medica）是一个拉丁语术语，与药学史息息相关。它指的是被用作疾病治疗药剂的物质或混合物的来源（植物、动物与矿物）、本质、制备方法及特性。布尔热拉（Bourgelat）编写了首部兽医领域的药物本草学著作。本综述阐述了药物本草学理念与实践的发展历程及其最终衰落。其存续两千余年，反映了宗教与教条对治疗学的影响。1953年，迈耶·琼斯（Meyer Jones）出版首部现代兽医药理学与治疗学著作，标志着药物本草学正式走入历史。在此之前，药物本草学的主导地位与马医文化密不可分，这一文化曾为蹄铁匠与庸医所共享。19世纪下半叶的巴斯德革命与药理学革命，使其逐渐被弃用。本综述阐释了为何阿片类镇痛药、强心药与全身麻醉剂等真正具有药理活性的物质，既未被用于其对应的治疗用途，又存在处方不当的问题：部分原因在于历史惯性，部分则是因为缺乏病理生理学知识以支撑合理用药。彼时人们尚未理解现代剂量概念，尤其是物种间的用药差异。当时还存在诸多支撑错误适应症的核心教条：例如，人们未将疼痛视为需要治疗的症状，而仅将炎症视作血液系统活动过度引发的疾病症状，需通过放血与泻下疗法强力干预。本综述涵盖了一段边界清晰的时期：从编写首部兽医学研究用药物本草学著作的布尔热拉，到1953年迈耶·琼斯教材的首版发行——后者标志着兽医学领域药物本草学时代的终结与药理学时代的开启。