MATERIA MEDICA. 



nature of the medicine itself, the condi- 

 tion of the patient in whom it is used, or 

 the necessary regimen, are different ac- 

 cording to the particular order which is 

 employed. They will easily be under- 

 stood, from what has already been said of 

 stimulants and sedatives, considered as 

 separate classes. 



There is, perhaps, no condition of the 

 body which will contra-indicate the use of 

 every individual referred to the class of 

 antispasmodics. But the same morbid 

 conditions, which have already been men- 

 tioned, as contra-indicating the use of sti- 

 mulants and sedatives, will likewise con- 

 tra-indicate the orders of antispasmodics 

 denominated from these classes. 



15. Of Narcotics. 



These are medicines which have a pow- 

 er of diminishing the animal energy, and 

 hence inducing torpor and sleep, during 

 which this energy is usually recruited 

 and restored. They diminish the sensi- 

 bility of the part to which they are parti- 

 cularly applied. They diminish the ac- 

 tion and tonic power of its muscular 

 fibres. They produce a peculiar sensa- 

 tion in the. system in general. They di- 

 minish the energy of the sensorium. 



Tiie changes induced in the system 

 from the primary eifects of narcotics are, 

 retardation of the blood's motion in the 

 part more immediately acted upon : di- 

 minution of the force of circulation in the 

 system in general : diminution of excite- 

 ment in the powers of sensation and re- 

 flection : and diminution of vigour in mus- 

 cular action through the system. 



Narcotics may be divided into those 

 which act directly, and those which act 

 indirectly. Of the former tribe are pop- 

 pies, opium, hyoscyamus, hops, and let- 

 tuce ; of the latter, neutral salts and 

 acids. Their use may be calculated from 

 the following sources : 1. From their af- 

 fecting the circulation ; whence they may 

 be employed to diminish the force and 

 celerity of the blood's motion where 

 morbidly augmented ; to diminish the im- 

 petus of the blood against parts morbidly 

 affected. 2. From their acting on the 

 powers of sensation ; whence they may 

 be employed to abate violent pain; to 

 procure sleep, in cases of preternatural 

 watchfulness. 3. And from their acting 

 on the moving fibres ; whence they may 

 be employed to restrain inordinate mo- 

 tions, and to moderate excessive evacua- 

 tions. These indications may be illus- 

 trated and confirmed from practical ob- 

 servations concerning the effects of this 



class of medicines, as employed in cases 

 of inflammation, tooth-ach, and dysente- 

 ry. The cautions to be observed in the 

 employment of this class of medicines, 

 as derived from their nature, chiefly re- 

 spect the insensibility which they pro- 

 duce ; the atony they occasion in the 

 muscular fibres, particularly in the blood- 

 vessels ; and the suspension of the pow- 

 ers of sensation with which they are 

 sometimes followed. The conditions of 

 the system which chiefly require atten- 

 tion in their employment are, irritable 

 and relaxed habits ; and such as are con- 

 stitutionally liable to delirium from their 

 use. The circumstances chiefly to be at- 

 tended to in the necessary regimen, re- 

 spect the regulation of the dose of the 

 medicine employed ; the avoiding all sti- 

 mulating causes during their operation ; 

 and the guarding against their becoming 

 habitual to the system. Narcotics are 

 chiefly contra-indicated by a preternatu- 

 raily languid circulation ; a peculiarly le- 

 thargic disposition, and great morbid tor- 

 por in the system. 



16. Of Jlnthelmintics. 



By anthelmintics, are meant those me- 

 dicines which, without endangering the 

 life of the patient, are effectual in pro- 

 curing the removal of worms lodged in 

 the human body. The direct effects aris- 

 ing from this class of medicines are in- 

 tended to be exerted only on the worms 

 themselves ; but there are at the same 

 time few, if any, medicines, which, when 

 employed with this intention, do not also 

 produce some effect on the animal body : 

 to enter upon the consideration of these, 

 however, would be foreign to this class. 

 As anthelmintics they produce the follovr- 

 ing effects. They kill worms to which 

 they come to be applied in the body. 

 They expel them from the body. They 

 prevent their generation in the body. 

 The only changes produced in the sys- 

 tem, that are here to be considered, are 

 those which arise from their action upon 

 the worms themselves. These are, the 

 removal of an almost infinite variety of 

 different symptoms which worms produce 

 whilst lodged in the body. Anthelmin- 

 tics may be subdivided into the following 

 tribes : poisonous, as quicksilver, tin, sul- 

 phur ; lubricant, as oil of olives and oil of 

 linseed ; tonic, as savin, tansy, santonicum; 

 cathartic, as scammony, jalap, aloes, gam- 

 boge. Their indications are manifested 

 from the following considerations : 1. 

 From their action on the worms them- 

 selves ; whence they may be employed 



