INTRODUCTION. 21 



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of all the cathartics. They remove from the system a 

 large quantity of water — as croton oil and gamboge. 



6. Cholagogue Purgatives stimulate the flow of 

 bile. These include aloes, podophyllin, rhubarb, and 

 mercurials. 



Intestinal Astringents contract the intestinal 

 vessels, diminishing the exudation therefrom, and les- 

 sening the fluidity of the fecal discharges. These 

 include the diluted mineral acids, lead acetate, alum, 

 tannic and gallic acids, sulphate of copper, and the 

 per-salts of iron, which also act as astringents to the 

 intestinal mucous membranes. 



Cholagogubs and Hepatic Stimulants. — 

 These are two groups of agents which have a marded 

 selective action upon the biliary secretion. 



The Hepatic Stimulants increase the functional 

 activity of the liver cells and also increaset he amount 

 of bile secreted. Nitric acid, nitromuriatic acid, am- 

 monium chloride, bicarbonate of soda, ipecac, and 

 antimony. 



Cholagogues remove the bile from the duodenum 

 and prevent its reabsorption by the portal vessels. 

 Aloes, arsenic, rhubarb, sodium phosphate, and 

 sulphate. 



Hepatic functions other than the biliary are stimu- 

 lated by the following-named drugs, viz. : 



The Glycogenic Function is stimulated and the 

 production of glycogen increased by sodium bicar- 

 bonate, amyl nitrite, and nitromuriatic acid. 



Urea is increased by arsenic, antimony, ammo- 

 nium chloride, iron, and phosphorus. 



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