Excitant

An agent that will excite a special function of the body. They are subdivided according to action as motor, cerebral, etc. Examples: Alcohol, strychnine, cocaine.

Expectorant

An agent that facilitates the removal of the secretions of the bronchopulmonary mucous membrane. Examples: Ammonium chloride, ammonium carbonate, ipecac. Expectorants are sometimes classed as sedative expectorants and stimulating expectorants.

Extractum. Ext. Extract

Extracts are solid or semi-solid preparations produced by evaporating solutions of vegetable principles. The official extracts are either powders or soft solids. The majority of them can be obtained in powdered form and many prescribers prefer them that way. Extracts are usually about five times the strength of the crude drug. Twenty-five are official.

Flower

That part of a plant which comprises the organs of reproduction. Examples: Arnica, anthemis, matricaria.

Fluidextractum. Flext. Fluidextract

These are solutions of the soluble constituents of organic drugs of such strength that each mil represents 1 gramme of the drug. The majority of the fluidextracts contain a comparatively large percentage of alcohol and many of these give precipitates with water. Most of them contain tannic acid; so, should not be used with agents incompatible with that drug. Forty-nine fluidextracts are official.

Fruit

A product of a plant for the propagation of its kind. It is the seed usually with the part containing it. Examples: Colocynth, vanilla, capsicum.

Galactagogue

An agent that stimulates the secretion of milk. Examples : Mild malt drinks.

Germicide

An agent that will kill germs. Examples: Phenol, corrosive mercuric chloride, potassium permanganate, iodine.

Glucoside

A substance (usually of vegetable origin) that is capable of being split up into two or more simpler bodies, one of which is glucose. Examples: Santonin, salicin, digitalin.

Glyceritum. Glyc. Glycerite

Glycerites are solutions of medicinal substances in glycerin. They are not often prescribed. Five glycerites are official.

Gum

;An amorphous, non-volatile solid or soft-solid substance obtained as a natural exudate from a plant, and possessing the properties of being more or less soluble in water, insoluble in alcohol and, when moist, having adhesive qualities. Examples: Acacia, tragacanth.

Gum-resin

A natural mixture of gum and resin. Examples: Asafetida, myrrh.

Haematinic

An agent that will increase the hematin in the blood. Example: Iron.

Haemostatic

An agent that will arrest bleeding without being directly applied to the bleeding area. Examples: Calcium lactate, horse-serum, ergot.

Herb

A plant of tender,' juicy nature, only living one season. Examples: Peppermint, lobelia, pennyroyal.

Hydragogue

An agent that produces watery evacuations of the intestinal contents. Examples: Magnesium sulphate, solution of magnesium citrate, sodium phosphate.