56 GENERAL ACTIONS OF DRUGS 



is also altered by most drugs eliminated in it, leading to 

 changes in color, odor, reaction and the appearance of blood 

 pigment, etc. 



Urinary Antiseptics. 



Certain drugs are sometimes given with the purpose of 

 preventing decomposition of the urine in purulent pyelitis 

 and cystitis. Among these are : 



Benzoic acid Copaiba 



Boric acid Cubebs 



Salicylic acid Volatile oils 



Salol ' Urotropin 



Buchu 



Urinary Sedatives. 



The foregoing list, in preventing decomposition, and : . 

 Hyoscyamus Opium 



Belladonna Alkalies (with an acid urine) 



Drugs Acting on the Sexual Organs. 



(A) Infuencing Chiefly the Male Generative Organs. 



The mechanism concerned with the sexual functions is 

 presided over by cerebral and spinal lumbar centres. Agents 

 may immediately excite the spinal centres or cause local 

 irritation of sensory nerves in various parts of the body — 

 more particularly in the neighborhood of the genital organs 

 — and thus reflexly stimulate the lumbar centres. 



The cerebral centres are mainly affected by visual, nasal 

 or oral impressions, and also reflexly by irritation of sensory 

 nerve-endings, more especially those situated in the sexual 

 organs. 



(1) Aphrodisiacs are drugs exciting sexual desire (and 

 increasing sexual power in the male). They include : 



DIRECT APHRODISIACS. 



Strychnine ^ 



Phosphorus >• ^ct on centres 



Alcohol 3 



Cantharides Local irritant 



