30 MATERIA MEDICA. 



in the living body, is generally the effect of 

 a high degree of debility. 



ANTISPASMODICS are medicines which 

 possess the power of allaying inordinate or 

 painful motions in the system, particularly 

 those involuntary contractions in parts which 

 are naturally subject to the command of the 

 will. 



Medical writers divide antispasmodics into 

 two kinds, viz. stimulants and sedatives. 

 To the former belong arsenic, preparations 

 of copper, zinc, and iron ; also ammonia, 

 ether, essential oils, &c. The latter compre- 

 hends opium, musk, camphor, and all the 

 vegetable narcotics. 



Medicines of the foetid kind, such as gal- 

 banum, assa foetida, &c. have also an antis- 

 pasmodic quality. 



When spasm arises from ixntaAAOHySedatives 

 are to be given, but when it depends merely 

 on debility, tonics are evidently proper. 



APERIENTS. Opening medicines. (See 

 Laxatives and Cathartics.) 



AQUAFORTIS. Weak nitrous acid. 

 (See Acid nitrous.) 



ARABIC GUM. (See Gum Arabic.) 



ARSENIC. There are two kinds of <ir- 



