DRUGS INFLUENCING METABOLISM 59 



Drug treatment is ineffective in increasing the secretion 

 of milk ; rich feeding is the chief desideratum. Many drugs 

 are eliminated in milk and may produce their characteristic 

 effects in animals or man drinking it. Among these are : 



(b) Antigaladagogues. — Belladonna is the only efficient 

 drug lessening the secretion of milk, applied locally or given 

 internally. It paralyzes the peripheral secretory nerve- 

 endings and is useful in mammitis by diminishing the circu- 

 latory activity in the mammary gland. 



Drugs Influencing Metabolism. 



(1) Alteratives, — The term " alterative " is a vague, inde- 

 finable word used to describe the action of certain drugs, 

 modifying tissue change and improving nutrition in some 

 disorders, which cannot easily be classified under other 

 heads. It is impossible here to recount the actions of 

 alteratives, because they probably act in various ways, and 

 because we are generally ignorant of their actions. The 

 value of alteratives has been discovered by clinical expe- 

 rience. The following are often classed as alteratives : 



Arsenic and its preparations Phosphoric acid 



Mercury and its salts Colchicum 



Iodine and its salts Sarsaparilla 



Cod liver oil Sulphur 



Uses. — Alteratives are employed in those diseases in 

 which experience has proved them beneficial. 



