58 . GENERAL ACTIONS OF DRUGS 



INDIRECT EMMENAGOGUES. 



Purgatives (Aloes) 



Iron ^ 



Arsenic 



Strychnine Mn debiUty . 



Full diet J 



Uses. — The irrit^vnt emmenagogues are usually ineffectual 

 in medicinal doses, while they may cause inflammation of 

 the urinary tract and abortion (in pregnant animals) in large 

 doses. The use of the indirect emmenagogues is more 

 rational and effective. Aloes is thought to stimulate the 

 uterus reflexly by irritation of the large intestines, and may 

 also act locally on the uterus after absorption. Absence of 

 oestrum, ordinarily a symptom resulting from a general or 

 local condition, should be treated if possible by removing^ 

 the cause (debility, plethora, deformity). 



(2) FcbdlicSf or oxytocics^ are drugs stimulating uterine 

 contraction during or directly after parturition. The exact 

 physiological details concerned in this action are unknown. 

 They are : 



Ergot Quinine 



Cotton root bark Hydrastis 



Corn smut Savin ^ 



(3) Drugs restraining uterine contractions. 



Anaesthetics Chloral 



Opium , Bromides 



Cannabis Indica 



Uses. — Ecbollics (preeminently ergot) are used to con- 

 tract the uterus and arrest haemorrhage after parturition ; 

 or to stimulate the womb during parturition in inertia. In 

 poisonous doses they may lead to abortion during pregnancy. 

 Drugs restraining uterine contraction (especially opium) 

 are sometimes given to prevent threatened abortion. 



(4) Drugs influencing milk-secretion. 



(a) Galactagogues are drugs increasing the flow of milk. 

 They include : 



Pilocarpine Leaves of castor oil plant (inter- 



Alcohol nally or locally on udder as 



(Full diet) poultice). 



