This work investigates the historical development and clinical application of digitalis, tracing its evolution from eighteenth-century herbal remedy to a foundational component of modern cardiology. J. K. Aronson, a clinical pharmacologist and co-author of the Oxford Textbook of Clinical Pharmacology, provides a dual-perspective analysis. The text combines a primary source facsimile with contemporary scientific commentary to bridge the gap between historical medical practice and current pharmacological standards.

Experts recognize this volume as a definitive resource for understanding the transition of digitalis into clinical practice. Readers frequently note the academic density of the prose, which serves as a valuable reference for both medical historians and practicing clinicians.