RUB} 194 
RUBIFACIENTS. 
‘ 
ntact 
These are irritating substances applied to the 
skin, which excite its vessels to a slight degree, E 
will not say of inflammation, but something ap- 
proaching to it, designated by the redness which 
follows their application: and hence the term. 
They are certain acrid substances chiefly from the 
vegetable: kingdom ; as Arum, Mezereon, Ranun- 
culus bulbosus and R. acris, mustard, horseradish, 
_ horse-mint, skunk-cabbage, capsicam, (different 
species.) garlic and some other alliaceze and bulb- 
“e’ the essential distilled principle of resins, as 
oil of turpentine, oil of horse-mint, oil of tansy, 
pennyroyal, and several of the verticillate ; some 
peculiar substances, as camphor and its tincture, 
aqua ammonia, &c. In short every thing which 
blisters, applied with that effect, may be so man- 
aged as to procure a moderation of that vesicating 
effect, so as simply to redden the skin, thus be- 
coming rubifacients. Dr. Paris has refered ru- 
- bifacients, to a collection of agents called Lini- 
ments, from the operation and mode of application 
of which, I think they differ in so many material cir- 
cumstances, that I cannot accord with him in this 
disposition. I preserve therefore the name at the 
head of these hints, to designate articles which 
operate in the manner those already mentioned do: 
and refer to liniments, such substances as are 
characterized by the discrepancy of application 
and effect just hinted. . ee 
