ANTHELMINTICS are those medicin 
the al canal. The greater number of them act mechanical 
ging the worms, by the sharpness or roughness of their pat 
es, or by their cathartic operation. Some seem to have no 0 
qualities than those of powerful bitters, by which they either pr 
‘noxious to these animals, or remove that debility of the digestiv 
s by which the food is not properly assimilated, or the secret 
poured into the intestines are not properly prepared; cireum- — 
s from which it has been supposed the generation of worn 
CLASS XIX.—DEMULCENTS. 
‘Demutcenrs are defined, “ Medicines suited to obviate and pre- 
vent the action of acrid and stimulant matters, and that, not by 
ng or changing their acrimony, but by involving it in a mild 
id matter, which prevents it from acting upon the sensi 
our bodies,” or by covering the surface exposed to their: 
= Where these substances are directly applied to the parts a 
it is easy to perceive how benefit may be derived from their 
where they are received by the medium of the st 
ulating system, it has been supposed that they ¢ 
‘as they must lose that viscidity on which their Jubris 
al depends. Hence it has been concluded, that they cat 
of no service in gonorrhea, and some similar affections. It is 
tain, however, that many substances which undergo the process 
____ digestion are afterwards separated in their entire state from the 
~__ by particular secreting organs, especially by the kidneys; and! 
__ possible that mucilaginous substances, which are the princip® 
: -mulcents, may be separated in this manner. There can be no 
= ver, but that a great share of the relief demulcents afford 
mn or inflammation of the urinary passages, is owing to 
uantity of water in which they are diffused, by which 
is rendered less stimulating from dilution. . In general, 
ts may be considered merely as substances less sti 
* fluids usually applied. eee a 
= th, diarrhea, dysentery, calculus, and gonorrh 
_ diseas oe ah emnaleeats aie emplared. As they are 
SRM @ Val power, they may r : en as z 
The particular demulcents may be reduced to the two ! 
of mucilages and expressed oils. 
ie 
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