59 | DEM. 
DEMULCENTS. 
Substances capable of protecting the sensible 
surfaces of the body from the action of acrid ex- 
traneous matter presented to them from without, or 
engendered by disease within the system. This 
they do mechanically, for the most part, by in- 
viscating the acridity of th ust 
irritating cause, by 
reason of their mucilaginous or oleaginous nature. 
The whole of the subjects of this class, are refera- 
ble to two sections; mucilages and expressed or 
bland oils. I have noticed the class in pure cour- 
tesy to preceding writers and teachers. It is per- 
haps the most objectionable group of the whole 
system of medicamental classification, not to say 
absurd. It is quite impossible for me to conceive 
any semblance of reason for grouping under a 
distinct class, a number of substances, which 
present in the very outset, an opposing barrier to 
their just retention under such aclass—for, beyond 
the palpable mechanical effect of the bland ‘sub- 
stances, as acacia gum. in allaying the irritation of 
the partially inflamed glottis and trachea, in cough, 
and the exasperated inflammation of cynanche tra- 
chealis, I know of no substance which, consistent- 
ly with any correct notions of physiology, can be 
recognised as demulcents. What demulcent pro- 
perty, or in other words, what inviscating in- 
fluence can flaxseed tea, taken for gonorrhea, ex- 
ert, on the inflamed and discharging surface of the 
urethra? Will it be said the bland mucilage aud 
oil of sy article, which is mere a nutritive beve- 
Lo 
