This unique two-part discussion of foxglove—the herb from which digitalis is derived—features a facsimile of William Withering's classic “An Account of Foxglove and Some of its Medical Uses,” complete with explanatory notes interpreting this eighteenth century text for the modern reader.
The second part of the book, written by J.K. Aronson, co-author of the Oxford Textbook of Clinical Pharmacology, includes an introduction to the botany and pharmacology of foxgloves, their therapeutic uses before Withering, a short biography of Withering, an account of 18th century medical
practices, and finally a review of the uses of digitalis in modern medicine.

'This book is a delight, from start to finish, touching upon all manner of fascinating topics...a most enjoyable text.' New Scientist 'It would be invidious for the reviewer to select for special mention any particular chapter from Aronson's history and critique because each one is so well-written, so thoroughly researched and so full of fresh material...With three indexes and over 250 references to complete the work we can rightly say that the Oxford pharmacologist has written a classic about a classic.' Journal of the Royal College of General Practitioners.