MATERIA MEDICA. 



istence of a plethoric habit, constitutional 

 predisposition to maniacal affections, or 

 topical hemorrhage, and a sanguineous 

 temperament. 



13. Of Stimulants. 



These, like the last, are medicines 

 which have a power of exciting the ani- 

 mal energy ; but for the most part topi- 

 cally, rather than generally, or for a short- 

 er period of time. They occasion a par- 

 ticular sensation referred to the part more 

 immediately acted upon; frequently a 

 sense of pain ; they increase the action of 

 muscular fibres in that part, particularly 

 in its vessels ; they increase the energy of 

 the sensorium ; they increase the nervous 

 energy in the moving fibres through the 

 system in general. The changes induced 

 in the system from the primary effects of 

 stimulants, are, acceleration of the motion 

 of the blood in the part to which they 

 are particularly applied ; an increase of 

 the force of circulation in the system in 

 general ; an increase of excitement in the 

 powers of sensation ; and an augmenta- 

 tion of mobility and vigour in the muscu- 

 lar organs. They may be divided into the 

 following heads : topical, of which we 

 have examples in mustard-seed, cantha- 

 rides, mercurial preparations ; diffusible, 

 of which we have instances in volatile al- 

 kali, electricity, heat; cardiac, such as 

 cinnamon, nutmegs, and other spices, 

 and wine. 



The indications of cure which stimu- 

 lants are capable of fulfilling, may be de- 

 rived from the three following sources : 

 3 . From their affecting the state of circu- 

 lation : whence they may be employed, 

 to facilitate the passage of blood through 

 parts in which it is morbidly obstructed ; 

 to augment the force and celerity of the 

 circulation, where it is morbidly slow and 

 weak. 2. From their acting on the pow- 

 ers of sensation: whence they may be 

 employed, to quicken the senses where 

 morbidly dull ; to rouse the mental facul- 

 ties when in a lethargic state ; to exhila- 

 rate a despondent condition. 3. From 

 their acting on the moving fibres : whence 

 they may be employed, to restore the 

 power of motion where morbidly defi- 

 cient j to increase the strength of motion 

 where morbidly weak. These indications 

 may be illustrated and confirmed from 

 practical observations concerning the ef- 

 fects of this class of medicines, as em- 

 ployed in cases of syncope, apoplexy, 

 and palsy. The cautions to be observed 

 in employing stimulants, are, the pain 

 they excite, the violence of circulation, 



or the flow of the animal spirits which 

 they produce, the mobility of the system 

 which arises from their employment, and 

 the collapse, which is the consequence of 

 high and sudden excitement. The con- 

 ditions of the system, which chiefly re- 

 quire attention in their employment, are 

 delicate and irritable habits. The cir- 

 cumstances chiefly to be attended to in 

 the regimen necessary, respect the diet 

 and temperature best adapted to the sti- 

 mulant employed, and the nature of the 

 particular disease in which it is used. The 

 individuals belonging to this class are 

 chiefly contra-indicated by the presence 

 of the following morbid states : a high 

 degree of morbid irritability ; the circu- 

 lation uncommonly accelerated; and a 

 preternatural disposition to haemorrhage. 



14. Of Antispasmodics. 



By these are meant whatever has a 

 power of allaying inordinate motions in 

 the system, particularly those involuntary 

 contractions which take place in muscles 

 naturally subject to the command of the 

 will ; they counteract and remove various 

 causes exciting contractions ; they dimi- 

 nish the influence of the nervous energy 

 in the parts spasmodically affected. The 

 changes induced in the system, from the 

 primary effects of antispasmodics, are, 

 the restoration of the proper balance of 

 the nervous energy in different parts of 

 the body, the restoration of the due influ- 

 ence of the will, and the restoration of 

 the natural state of tension to the mus- 

 cles. The different articles referred to 

 the class of antispasmodics may be distri- 

 buted into the two following orders : sti- 

 mulant, as volatile alkali, essential oils, 

 ether ; sedative, as camphor, musk, opi- 

 um. 



As the action of the medicines referred 

 to this class, depends entirely upon the 

 presence of a morbid state, what has been 

 advanced with regard to their nature, 

 will, in a good measure, serve to illus- 

 trate their use. The indications of cure 

 which, as antispasmodics, they are capa- 

 ble of fulfilling, are entirely to be derived 

 from their influence on the nervous ener- 

 gy : whence they may be used, to remove 

 spasmodic contractions taking place in 

 different muscles, to allay convulsive agi- 

 tations. These indications ma) be illus- 

 trated and confirmed from practical ob- 

 servations concerning the effects of anti- 

 spasmodics, as employed in cases of epi- 

 lepsy and cramp. The circumstances 

 claiming attention in the employment of 

 antispasmodics, which respect either the 



