199 . (sta. 
SIALOGOGUES. 
ag 
These are usually defined by authors to be 
general and local stimulants which inerease the 
salivary discharge. I divide them into two groups, 
the Ist, I leave as I found them under the above 
title, Sialogogues—by which I mean such medi- 
cines, as, internally administered, produce among” 
numerous other stimulant effects, a peculiar stim- 
ulant impulse on the salivary glands, by which an 
increased flow of their secretion is established, and 
for some time continued. The 2d, I shall desig- 
nate by the term salivant-masticatories. It is 
with the first class I have any thing todo here. 
Mercury, by which I mean all the salts of that) 
body, is the only true sialogogue which has as yet | 
come to our knowledge. It is true nitric acidy 
and other medicines have been said often to induce 
“thiseffect: yet it appears doubtful if such substances 
- do this, by being taken into the course of the circula- 
tion, as mercury decidedly is, and through this | 
‘course stimulating the salivary glands to pour out ~ 
considerable quantities of saliva. At all events, ' 
admitting that such substances do often induce 
‘tyalism—no one would hazard the assertion that 
they always, or for the most part do so; indeed 
such effect is of exceedingly rare occurrence, com- 
paratively with the innumerable exhibitions in 
- yarious forms, for various affections, of the anoma- 
Jous salivant substances in question. An acci- 
dental or an unusual effect of a medicine can never 
