Absorbents

Those which produce absorption and exudation of diseased tissue (Gould).

Alteratives

A rather vague term, not universally approved, applied to certain drugs which have an un-explainable power over the nutritive processes.

Anaesthetics

Those which produce a state of insensibility to pain. They may be (a) general, as ether; or (b) local, as cocaine.

Analeptics

Restorative medicines, or food.

Anodynes, Analgesics

Those which give relief from pain.

Antacids

Those which counteract acidity.

Anthelmintics

Those used to expel (vermifuge) or kill (vermicide) intestinal parasites.

Antiarthritics

Medicines which relieve gout.

Antihydropics

Those which relieve dropsical conditions.

Antilithics

Those which dissolve calculi.

Antiperiodics

Those which break up the rhythmical character of some manifestations of disease, as chills in ague.

Antipyretics

Those which reduce fever.

Antiseptics

Medicines which prevent putrefaction.

Antispasmodics

Those which relieve convulsions and spasmodic pains (Gould).

Antizymotics

Those which have power to kill disease germs.

Aromatics

Medicines characterized by a spiciness of odor and taste, stimulant to the gastro-intestinal mucous membrane.

Astringents

Those which tend to contract the tissues, thus checking secretions.

Bitters - Aromatic

Those which unite the properties of the aromatics and the bitters.

Bitters - Simple

Medicines which have a bitter taste and power of stimulating the gastro-intestinal tract without affecting the general system.

Calefacients

Those used to produce a sense of warmth.

Cardiac Depressants

Those which weaken the heart's action.

Cardiac Stimulants

Those which strengthen the heart's action.

Carminatives are slightly stimulant, and expel gas from the stomach and intestines.

Cathartics, Purgatives

Those which produce evacuation of the bowels. They are subdivided as follows: laxatives, or aperients, those of gentle action, among which are fruits and some vegetables; drastic cathartics, those of severe action causing griping; hydragogue cathartics, those which remove water freely from the intestines. Some of the drastics belong to this class, and all salines. Saline cathartics produce a copious flow of serum from the intestinal walls into the canal. The blood serum being of one degree of alkalinity and the salts a much stronger solution, an active exchange takes place until the two are equalized. It was formerly taught that salts should be given in a large quantity of water, but Dr. Hay teaches giving them in saturated solution, and states that it is not the amount of water in the canal, but in the tissues that is of importance, and that purgation may be prevented by withholding water from the diet for a day or two.

Caustics

Drugs which have the power of destroy ing living tissue.

Cholagogues

Those which cause a flow of bile.

Convulsants

Those which cause convulsions.

Correctives

Medicines used to correct or render more pleasant the action of other remedies, especially purgatives.

Demulcents

Mucilaginous principles which are used in solution to soothe and protect irritated mucous membranes or other tissues.

Deodorants

Substances which destroy or hide foul odors.

Depilatories

Those used to remove hair.

Depresso-Motors

Those which lessen the activity of the spinal cord and motor centres (Gould).

Depurants

Medicines which stimulate excretions and so purify the system.

Detergents

Those which cleanse wounds, ulcers, etc.

Diaphoretics

Those which increase the action of the skin and produce perspiration.

Diluents

Those which dilute the secretions of organs.

Disinfectants

Those which have the power of destroying disease germs or noxious properties of organic matter.

Diuretics

Those which increase the flow of urine.

Ecbolics

Those which produce abortion.

Emetics

Those which produce emesis or vomiting: (a) local emetics, those that act directly on the nerves of the mucous membrane of the stomach, and (b) systemic emetics, those that act on the vomiting centres in the medulla.

Emmenagogues

Those which stimulate the men-strual flow.

Emollients

Substances used to soften and protect tissue.

Epispastics, Escharotics

Those which produce blisters and sloughing.

Errhines

Medicines which increase the nasal secretion.

Evacuants

A term applied to purgatives.

Excito-Motors

Those which increase the activity of the spinal cord and motor centres (Gould).

Expectorants

Those which increase bronchial secretions.

Febrifuges

Medicines which dissipate fever.

Galactagogues

Those which increase the secretion of milk.

Haemostatics

Such as arrest haemorrhage.

Hypnotics

Those which produce sleep, but have no power over pain. All anodynes are also hypnotics, but all hypnotics are not anodynes.

Mydriatics

Drugs which cause mydriasis or dilatation of the pupil.

Myotics

Those which cause myosis or contraction of the pupil.

Narcotics

Those which have intensified anodyne and hypnotic power, producing a condition of stupor.

Neurotics

Those which act on the nervous system.

Nutriants

Drugs which modify nutritive processes.

Nutrients

Substances which nourish.

Oxytocics

Medicines which stimulate uterine contractions.

Prophylactics

Medicines which prevent the taking or development of a disease.

Refrigerants

Those which lessen the body temperature.

Revulsants

Those which, by causing irritation, serve to draw the blood from a distant diseased part. Counter-irritants.

Rubefacients

Those which redden the skin by distending the capillaries. Rubefacients, epispastics, and escharotics must be classified loosely, as many drugs have all three actions, according to the length of time and severity of application. Nitrate of silver is an escharotic which does not belong to the other two classes.

Sedatives

Those which have a soothing effect by lowering functional activity (Gould).

Sialagogues

Those which produce an increased flow of saliva.

Somnifacients, Soporifics

Those which cause sleep.

Sorbefacients

Medicines which cause absorption.

Specifics

Those which have direct curative influence on certain individual diseases.

Stimulants

Those which increase functional activity.

Stomachics

Stimulants exciting the functional activity of the stomach.

Styptics

The same as haemostatics.

Sudorifics

Those which produce sweating.

Taeniacides

Drugs which kill tape-worms.

Tonics

Those which promote nutrition and give tone to the system.

Vesicatories

Blisters.