Chapter 1: History of Pharmacology

Question 1

Acupressure

Answer 1

traditional Chinese medicine’s use of pressure on certain points on the body to promote healing

Question 2

Acupuncture

Answer 2

traditional Chinese medicine’s use of needles at certain points on the body to promote healing

Question 3

Al-Hawi

Answer 3

large 20-volume Arabian medial book written by a singe author Al-Razi and having a significant influence on medicine in Medieval Europe

Question 4

Alternative Medicine

Answer 4

the practice of using natural healing in conjunction with mainstream medicine. Some examples are acupuncture, massage therapy, and aromatherapy

Question 5

Antineoplastic

Answer 5

drug used to destroy neoplasms

Question 6

Aromatherapy

Answer 6

use of fragrant oils in baths, as inhalants, or during massage to relieve stress and to treat skin conditions

Question 7

Bovine

Answer 7

refers to products produced from cow

Question 8

Curative

Answer 8

having healing or remedial properties

Question 9

Destructive

Answer 9

causing injury or death

Question 10

Diagnostic

Answer 10

pertaining to the disease or syndrome a person has or is believed to have

Question 11

Drug

Answer 11

substance that can change a function in a living being

Question 12

Ebert Papyrus

Answer 12

preserved medical document listing some 700 recipes to remedy a wide range of illnesses; written in approximately 1550 BC in Egypt

Question 13

Palliative

Answer 13

relieving or alleviating without curing

Question 14

Pharmacodynamics

Answer 14

study of drugs and their actions in living organisms

Question 15

Pharmacology

Answer 15

study of drugs and their origin, nature, properties, and effects on living organisms

Question 16

Pharmakon

Answer 16

the study of medicine; also means poison or remedy

Question 17

Porcine

Answer 17

indicates substance is derived from pigs

Question 18

Prophylactic

Answer 18

pertaining to prevention

Question 19

Replacement drugs

Answer 19

restoration of something depleted or missing

Question 20

Synthetic drug

Answer 20

related to or made by synthesis; artificially prepared

Question 21

Therapeutic touch

Answer 21

the use of hand movements to stimulate circulation and healing.

Question 22

droog

Answer 22

Dutch word meaning dry, as in dried herbs used for healing; source of the word drug

Question 23

If people rely on plants for medication, what effect does the increasing human population have on the potential supply of medications?

Answer 23

If we don’t develop land that could be used to grow plants, we could lose our ability to make medications from these plants, which will cause them to become scarce.

Question 24

Cows and pigs are good sources of hormones. Do you think animals may be a better hormone source than humans> Why or why not?

Answer 24

Humans are the best source, because the drugs made from human sources would be compatible with other humans. In instances of things such as blood products, we only have limited supplies. If there is a way to make safe substitutes using animals, that would be a good alternative. On the other hand, we can’t control what a human ingests or is exposed to as we can with animals.

Question 25

What are some of the dangers of using toxins as medicine?

Answer 25

The obvious danger would be that use of the toxin could potentially cause the patient to become very ill.

Question 26

What are some of the ethical issues with the synthesis of drugs?

Answer 26

Are we playing God by creating substances that aren’t naturally occurring in nature? Are we playing God by manipulating genes and altering animal cells? Are we being cruel using animals in the synthesis of drugs?

Question 27

Identify the following drugs as curative, prophylactic, diagnostic, palliative, destructive, or replacement.
Synthroid
Diuretic
Flu vaccine
Radiopaque dye
Fever reducer
Anticancer drugs

Answer 27

Synthroid–Replacement hormone

Diuretic–Curative, to reduce edema

Flu vaccine–Prophylactic, preventative

Radiopaque dye–Diagnostic

Fever reducer–Palliative, reduces discomfort, but does not cure.

Anticancer drugs–Destructive, destroys cancer cells.

Question 28

Which of the following is the source of lanolin?
A. Animal
B. Plant
C. Mineral
D. Human
E. Synthesis

Answer 28

A. Lanolin is derived from sheeps’ wool.

Question 29

Which of the following is the source of potassium chloride?
A. Animal
B. Plant
C. Mineral
D. Human
E. Synthesis

Answer 29

C. Pitassium chloride is derived from minerals.

Question 30

Which of the following is the source of digoxin (Lanoxin)?
A. Animal
B. Plant
C. Mineral 
D. Human
E. Synthesis

Answer 30

B. Digoxin (Lanoxin) is derived from a plant (foxglove).

Question 31

Which of the following is the source of barbiturates?
A. Animal
B. Plant
C. Mineral
D. Human
E. Synthesis

Answer 31

E. Barbiturates are made synthetically.

Question 32

Which of the following is the source of leukocytes?
A. Animal
B. Plant
C. Mineral
D. Human
E. Synthesis

Answer 32

D. Humans are the source of leukocytes (white blood cells).

Question 33

During which war did mass production of penicillin begin?
A. Civil War
B. World War I
C. World War II
D. Korean War
E. Vietnam War

Answer 33

C. World Ware II saw the mass production of penicillin.

Question 34

Are animals good sources for drugs? Explain your answer.

Answer 34

Animals may be a good source of medication, because their food sources and lifestyle can be better controlled than those of humans. They can also be continuously monitored for disease, but detection is never 100% safe, so they are a good source, but possibly not the best.

Question 35

What source of drugs is in danger of disappearing?

Answer 35

The rain forest and the rich plant sources are in danger of disappearing because of deforestation.

Question 36

Muhammed Al-Doost is a devout Muslim. He does not eat pork. Can he have porcine insulin?

Answer 36

He may have porcine insulin, but it would be against his religious beliefs, unless necessary for life. The physician may choose to prescribe synthetic or bovine insulin instead.

Question 37

Mary Littleton is adamantly against stem cell research and is refusing to use Humulin insulin. What do you think? Can you tell her that she can have this because it does not use stem cell research, or is she correct in her thinking?

Answer 37

Humulin insulin is manufactured using genetic engineering but does not involve the use of stem cells. It is named Humulin because it very closely resembles human insulin.