MATERIA MEDICA AND THERAPEUTICS. 1 5 



PHYSIOLOGICAL CLASSIFICATION OF MEDICINES. 



Actions of medicinal agents are local and general. Drugs 

 act by an elective affinity between themselves and particular cells 

 or tissues. 



Effects on different classes of patients are modified by age, 

 sex, breed, climate, habit, idiosyncrasy, disease and surroundings, 

 as well as conformation and condition. 



Poor surroundings prevent curative effects. 



Pigeons can eat morphine or opium. 



Rabbits can eat belladonna and morphine. 



Deer can eat tobacco without any poisonous effects. 



GENERAL ACTIONS. 



Stimulants increase organic activity of any part of the or- 

 ganism. 



1. Diffusible or general stimulants cause prompt but tran- 

 sient effects over the entire system, as alcohol, ammon., ether, etc. 



2. Spinal stimulants exalt the functions of the spinal cord, 

 as strychnine. 



3. Cerebral stimulants exalt the functions of the brain, as 

 opium. 



4. Cardiac stimulants, as digitalis ; stimulate the heart. 



5. Vaso-motor stimulants, as ergot ; stimulate contraction of 

 the arteries. 



6. Renal stimulants or Diuretics, as buchu, copaiba, etc. ; 

 stimulate the kidneys. 



7. Stomach stimulants or tonics, as gentian and ginger. 



8. Hepatic stimulants, as nitro-hydrochloric acid ; stimulate 

 the liver. 



9. Intestinal stimulants (carminatives) , as physostigma, pep- 

 permint, ginger, etc. 



10. Cutaneous stimulants, as spts. nitrous ether, etc. ; stimu- 

 late the skin. 



Sedatives. — Lessen functional activity of organs, lower mo- 

 tility and diminish pain, consequently exert a soothing influence 

 on the whole system. 



We have general sedatives, as gelsemium, and local or special 

 sedatives which affect a given part only. 



1. Pulmonary sedatives, lobelia. 



