MATERIA MEDICA. 



medies, they are employed in paralytic affections of the tongue and 

 rtroat in diseases of the tonils or salivary glands; «on>et,mes as 

 revulsives from neighbouring organs, as m toothache and earache 

 They are also called maslicataries. They are all described under 

 Other heads. 



CLASS XIII.-ERRHINES. 

 " Substances which promote the nasal secretion." As they 

 generally excite sneezing, they are also termed sternumanes 

 They all act by direct application ; and nearly any foreign substance 

 applied to the mucous membrane of the nose will produce this 

 effect They are used as revulsives in amaurosis, chronic ophthal- 

 mia, *&c. ; also in syncope ; also to promote the discharge of accu- 

 mulated mucus, and of foreign bodies. The most powerful errhines, 

 are tobacco, ammonia, euphorbium, and veratria. 

 CLASS XIV.-ECBOLICS. 



"Medicines which excite the uterine contractions, and thereby 

 expel its contents." They differ materially from emmenagogues in 

 possessing the specific influence over the contractile powers of he 

 womb. They are useful, not only in aiding the expulsion of the 

 Lus, but also in throwing off clots, hydatids, &c., from the uterus. 

 The only unequivocal ecbolic is 



Ekgot.— (Eegota, U. S.) 

 Spurred Rye.-k diseased product of the Secale cereale, or 

 common rye, caused by a fungous parasite,-in the form of nume- 

 Zs sporid'ia visible bj the microscope This f-f- J.^- '^^^S^^^ 

 upon any of the grasses, will produce the diseased condition ol the 

 Td" ^a^ed ..^«for spur. Rye grown upon poor and wet soils ,s 

 most subject to it. Occurs in spurred grains from ha f an inch to 

 an inch in length, cylindrical, tapenng and curved like a cocks 

 spuT colour, fxt^rnally purplish-brown ; internally, dull white; 

 cdou;, in mass, resembling that of putrid fish ; taste, acrid and 

 unpleasant ;— virtues to boiling water and alcohol. 



Effects— In the ordinary dose it produces no perceptible efleas 

 on-X male system ; but o^ the female it P-^-es decided uterme 

 contractions, particularly in the impregnated "O^d't on ; and these 

 contractions ire of a ionic nature. It also -.™™„ P™'^"'=^^ 

 nausea, giddiness, and stupor, indicating a narcotic influence. 



Erg^tized grain, used for a length of time, has been known to 

 produ'ce fatal effects-such as dry gangrene, typhus fever, and con- 



''"'ife -Chiefly to facilitate labour; but only when the delay 

 arises simply from a want of contractile power of the uterus ;-also 



