MATERIA MEDICA. 



dications may be illustrated and confirm- 

 ed, from considering the effects of this 

 class of medicines, as employed in dysen- 

 tery, small-pox, dropsy, obstructed men- 

 struation, and diarrhoea. 



The cautions to be observed in the em- 

 ployment of cathartics, as derived from 

 their nature, chiefly respect the degree 

 of evacuation they produce from the cir- 

 culating fluids, and the topical irritation 

 they occasion to the intestines themselves. 

 The conditions of the system which chief- 

 ly require attention in their employment, 

 are, childhood, female habits, hysterical 

 constitutions, high degrees both of irrita- 

 bility and torpor, remarkable delicacy 

 of the stomach and peculiar antipa- 

 thies. The circumstances chiefly to 

 be regarded with respect to the regimen 

 necessary for this class, are, the mode of 

 exhibiting the cathartic ; the time at 

 which it is given ; the temperature in 

 wliich the patient is kept during its ope- 

 ration ; the diet employed ; and the de- 

 gree of exercise he uses. 



The morbid conditions, contra-indicat- 

 ing the use of cathartic medicines, apply 

 only to particular orders. The stimulant, 

 refrigerant, and astringent, are contra-in- 

 dicated by general inanition of the sys- 

 tem ; the stimulant, by a high degree of 

 irritability in the intestines, and by mor- 

 bidly accelerated circulation ; the refri- 

 gerant, by a circulation unusually slow 

 and languid ; the astringent, by habitual 

 costiveness ; and the emollient, by un- 

 common relaxation of the bowels. 



6. OfEmmenagogv.es. 



By emmenagogues are meant medi- 

 cines which possess a power of promot- 

 ing that periodical secretion from the 

 uterus, which should take place in certain 

 conditions of the female frame. The 

 following, therefore, are their effects : 

 They stimulate the whole circulating sys- 

 tem. They stimulate, in a particular 

 manner, the vessels in the neighbourhood 

 of the uterus; and this effect seems, in 

 some degree, to be communicated to the 

 vessels of the uterus themselves. They 

 occasion a particular affection of the 

 whole nervous system. The changes in- 

 duced in the system from the primary 

 effects of emmenagogues, are, an increase 

 in the impetus of the blood circulating 

 through the uterus and its neighbour^ 

 hood; and an augmentation of the quan- 

 tity of blood determined to the uterus. 

 From some individuals referred to this 

 class, there arises an increase of the tonic 



powers of the vessels in the uterus, and 

 from others a diminution of it. Emmc- 

 nugogues may be divided into the follow- 

 ing tribes : stimulant, as various forms of 

 quick-silver and antimony ; irritant, as 

 aloes, savin, cantharides ; tonic, as iron, 

 cold-bath, corporeal exercise ; and anti- 

 spasmodic, as assafoetida, castor, warm 

 foot-bath. 



Their indications may be thus traced: 

 1. From their changing 1 the mode of cir- 

 culation, whence they may be employed 

 to free the circulatory system in the 

 neighbourhod of the uterus when ob- 

 structed there ; to promote that accumu- 

 lation of fluid in the vessels of the uterus 

 themselves, which is necessary to the 

 menstrual discharge : and to remove 

 morbid obstructions to the passage of 

 blood into the cavity of the uterus. 2. 

 From their acting on the state of the ani- 

 mated solids. Hence they may be used, 

 to increase the tonic power of the system 

 where it is morbidly diminished. To in- 

 crease the tonic power in the vessels of 

 the uterus in particular, when deficient 

 there. To remove spasmodic stricture 

 taking place on the vessels of the uterus. 



Practical observation in different cases 

 of obstructed menstruation, arising from 

 different causes, will illustrate and confirm 

 these various indications. 



The cautions to be observed in the em- 

 ployment of emmenagogues chiefly re- 

 spect the consequences of a cure if urged 

 too precipitately or violently; the irritation 

 produced to the intestines, and the stimu- 

 lus affecting the whole system. The con- 

 ditions of the animal frame which require 

 attention in their employment, are, the 

 age of the patient ; the complaints to 

 which she has formerly been liable ; the 

 duration of her present complaints ; and 

 her general character. The circumstan- 

 ces chiefly to be attended to in the regi- 

 men necessary, respect the temperature 

 in which the patient is kept ; the use of 

 moderate exercise ; and the employment 

 of liberal diet. 



In enumerating the morbid conditions 

 contra-indicating emmenagogues, a dis- 

 tinction is to be made betwixt those 

 which contra-indicate the restoration of 

 the discharge altogether, and those which 

 contra-indicate particular modes of re- 

 storing it. As morbid conditions, which 

 entirely contra-indicate the restoration 

 of this discharge, we may mention ex- 

 treme debility, either constitutional, or 

 induced by previous disease, which pro- 

 hibit our attempting its restoration so 

 long as the debility continues. The time 

 of critical discharges ; high degrees of 



