TERMS EXPRESSING THE PROPERTIES OF MEDICINES

3012. These _terms_ or names should be carefully remembered, and their explanations.

3013. Absorbents are medicines which destroy acidities in the stomach and bowels, such as magnesia, prepared chalk, &c.

3014. Alteratives are medicines which restore health to the constitution, without producing any sensible effect, such as sarsaparilla, sulphur, &c.

3015. Analeptics are medicines that restore the strength which has been lost by sickness, such as gentian, bark, &c.

3016. Anodynes are medicines which relieve pain, and they are divided into three kinds, _paregorics_, _hypnotics_, and _narcotics_ (see these terms); camphor is anodyne as well as narcotic.

3017. Antacids are medicines which destroy acidity, such as lime, magnesia, soda, &c.

3018. Antalkalies are medicines given to neutralize alkalies in the system, such as citric, nitric, or sulphuric acids, &c.

3019. Anthelmintics are medicines used to expel and destroy worms from the stomach and intestines, such as turpentine, cowhage, male fern, &c.

3020. Antibilious are medicines which are useful in bilious affections, such as calomel, &c.

3021. Antirheumatics are medicines used for the cure of rheumatism, such as colchicum, iodide of potassium, &c.

3022. Antiscorbutics are medicines against scurvy, such as citric acid, &c.

3023. Antiseptics are substances used to correct putrefaction, such as bark, camphor, &c.

3024. Antispasmodics are medicines which possess the power of overcoming spasms of the muscles, or allaying severe pain from any cause unconnected with inflammation, such as valerian, ammonia, &c.

3025. Aperients are medicines which move the bowels gently, such as dandelion root, &c.

3026. Aromatics are cordial, spicy, and agreeably-flavored medicines, such as cardamoms, cinnamon, &c.

3027. Astringents are medicines which contract the fibres of the body, diminish excessive discharges, and act indirectly as tonics, such as oak-bark, galls, &c.

3028. Attenuants are medicines which are supposed to thin the blood, such as ammoniated iron, &c.

3029. Balsamics are medicines of a soothing kind, such as Tolu, Peruvian balsam, &c.

3030. Carminatives are medicines which allay pain in the stomach and bowels, and expel flatulence, such as aniseed-water, &c.

3031. Cathartics are strong purgative medicines, such as jalap, &c.

3032. Cordials are exhilarating and warming medicines, such as aromatic confections, &c.

3033. Corroborants are medicines and food which increase the strength, such as iron, gentian, sago, &c.

3034. Demulcents correct acrimony, diminish irritation, and soften parts by covering their surfaces with a mild and viscid matter, such as linseed tea, &c.

3035. Deobstruents are medicines which remove obstructions, such as iodide of potash, &c.

3036. Detergents clean the surfaces over which they pass, such as soap.

3037. Diaphoretics produce perspiration, such as tartrate of antimony, &c.

3038. Digestives are remedies applied to ulcers or wounds, to promote the formation of matter, such as resin ointments, warm poultices, &c.

3039. Discutients possess the power of repelling or resolving tumors, such as galbanum, &c.

3040. Diuretics act upon the kidneys and bladder, and increase the flow of urine, such as nitre, squills, &c.

3041. Drastics are violent purgatives, such as gamboge, &c.

3042. Emetics produce vomiting, or the discharge of the contents of the stomach, such as mustard, tartar emetic, warm water, bloodroot, &c.

3043. Emollients are remedies used externally to soften the parts they are applied to, such as spermaceti, palm oil, &c.

3044. Epispastics are medicines which blister or cause effusion of serum under the cuticle, such as Spanish flies, &c.

3045. Errhines are medicines which produce sneezing, such as tobacco, &c.

3046. Escharotics are medicines which corrode or destroy the vitality of the part to which they are applied, such as lunar caustic, &c.

3047. Expectorants are medicines which increase expectoration, or the discharge from the bronchial tubes, such as ipecacuanha, &c.

3048. Febrifuges are remedies used in fevers, such as antimonial wines, &c.

3049. Hydragogues are medicines which have the effect of removing the fluid of dropsy, by producing water evacuations, such as gamboge, calomel, &c.

3050. Hypnotics are medicines that relieve pain by procuring sleep, such as hops, &c.

3051. Laxatives are medicines which cause the bowels to act rather more than natural, such as manna, &c.

3052. Narcotics are medicines which cause sleep or stupor, and allay pain, such as opium, &c.

3053. Nutrients are remedies that nourish the body, such as sugar, sago, &c.

3054. Paregorics are medicines which actually assuage pain, such as compound tincture of camphor, &c.

3055. Prophylactics are remedies employed to prevent the attack of any particular disease, such as quinine, &c.

3056. Purgatives are medicines that promote the evacuation of the bowels, such as senna, &c.

3057. Refrigerants are medicines which suppress an unusual heat of the body, such as wood-sorrel, tamarinds.

3058. Rubefacients are medicaments which cause redness of the skin, such as mustard, &c.

3059. Sedatives are medicines which depress the nervous energy, and destroy sensation, so as to compose, such as fox-glove, &c.

3060. Sialagogues are medicines which promote the flow of saliva or spittle, such as salt, calomel, &c.

3061. Soporifics are medicines which induce sleep, such as hops, &c.

3062. Stimulants are remedies which increase the action of the heart and arteries, or the energy of the part to which they are applied, such as sassafras, which is an internal stimulant, and savine, which is an external one.

3063. Stomachics restore the tone of the stomach, such as gentian, &c.

3064. Styptics are medicines which constrict the surface of a part, and prevent the effusion of blood, such as kino, &c.

3065. Sudorifics promote profuse perspiration or sweating, such as ipecacuanha, &c.

3066. Tonics give general strength to the constitution, restore the natural energies, and improve the tone of the system, such as chamomile, &c.

3067. Vesicants are medicines which blister, such as strong liquid ammonia, &c.

3068. _Lotions, &c._--Lotions are usually applied to the parts required, by means of a piece of linen rag wetted with them, or by wetting the bandage itself.

3069. _Emollient._--Use decoction of marsh-mallow or linseed.

3070. _Elder-flowers._--Add two drachms and a half of elder-flowers to one quart of boiling water, infuse for one hour, and strain. _Use_ as a discutient.

3071. _Sedative._--Dissolve one drachm of extract of henbane in twenty-four drachms of water.

3072. _Opium._--Mix two drachms of bruised opium with half a pint of boiling water, allow it to grow cold, and _use_ for painful ulcers, bruises, &c.

3073. _Decoctions._--These preparations soon spoil, and therefore should only be made in small quantities, particularly in summer.

3074. _Of Chimaphila._--Take one ounce of pyrola, (chimaphila or winter-green) and boil it in a pint and a half of water until it is only one pint; then strain.

3075. _Dose_, from one to two ounces, four times a day. Use in dropsies, as a diuretic.

3076. _Of Logwood._--Boil one ounce and a half of bruised logwood in two pints of water until it comes to one pint; then add one drachm of bruised cassia, and strain.

3077. _Dose_, from one to two ounces. Use as an astringent.

3078. _Of Dandelion._--Take two ounces of the freshly-sliced root, and boil in two pints of water until it comes to one pint; then add one ounce of compound tincture of horse-radish.

3079. _Dose_, from two to four ounces. Use in a sluggish state of the liver.