REMEDIAL MEASURES OTHER THAN DRUGS. 239 



MISCELLANEOUS PREPARATIONS. 



Demulcents are used for their action in coating inflamed mucous surfaces, thereby 

 protecting from irritation. 



... - v 



For the throat, Mucilago Ulmi. 



For the stomach and bowels : Emuisum Amygdalae, Bismuth. 



Emollients are bland substances applied to the skin. Examples: Adeps lanse, 

 Petrolatum, Glyceritum. 



Conntcrirritants inflame the skin and act reflexly by heightening sensibility in 

 that region of the cord receiving the sensory fibers irritated, and thereby affecting the 

 condition of all parts supplied by such nerves as have synapses in that same region of 

 the cord. 



Mild rubefacient: Spiritus Camphorse, 50%. 



Strong rubefacient: Oleum Terebinthinse Rectificatum. 



Rubefacient and occasional vesicant: Tinctura lodi; also Sinapis Alba. 



Astringents. Vegetable astringents used to be largely employed for checking 

 diarrheas ; bat modern treatment aims now at the cause, so the use of these astringents 

 has nearly been abandoned. 



Mineral astringents are employed for their effect in coagulating albumins. 



Examples are: Alumen, Argenti Nitras, Cupri Sulphas. 



Carminatives are substances used to relieve flatulency and gastro-intestinal un- 

 rest. They act through their mild irritation on the mucosa, increasing blood-supply 

 and stimulating secretion. 



Tinctura Cinnamomi, 2 to 4 mils. 



Spiritus Menthae Piperitae, 0.6 to 2 mils. 



Spiritus Gaultheriae, 0.6 to 2 mils. 



Protective*; are substance which, by coating a surface with a relatively permanent 

 and insoluble pellicle, exclude air, water, and other irritating material. 



Examples: Collodium, Tinctura Benzoini, Zinci Stearas. 



REMEDIAL MEASURES OTHER THAN DRUGS. 



The application of cold is used to modify congestion. It has a double action: 

 (i) the abstraction of heat, and (2) a reflex counterirritancy. It is indicated in local- 

 ized inflammations, and in high fever. 



Cold bathing is stimulant to hardy individuals because of its causing a superficial 

 vasoconstriction followed by vasodilatation, thereby hastening normal, healthful me- 

 tabolism. 



Larage is a simple cleansing of the mucosa of the stomach 



Ilntcroclysis is a temporary measure used to cause evacuations of the bowels, or 

 to quickly supply a source of liquid renewal of the blood in case of hemorrhages. 



Douches are used for the cleansing of body cavities, for the local application of 

 medicaments, and for reflex effects. 



