26 VETBKINAEY MATERIA MBDICA, 



Agents Acting on the Generative Appakatus. 



Aphkodisiacs stimulate the sexual desire and 

 function by direct and reflex action upon the genital 

 centres in the brain and spinal cord — nux vomica, 

 cannabis, cantharis, phosphorus. 



Anaphrodisiacs diminish the sejKual appetite and 

 lower its functional power by depressing the genital 

 centres or by decreasing the local circulation — co- 

 caine, belladonna, lupulin, bromides. 



Emmenagogues include all measures and remedies 

 which restore the menstrual function. They are di- 

 vided into : 



Direct Emmenagogues, which stimulate the uter- 

 ine muscular fibres and are ecbolic in large doses — 

 ergot, rue, savine, borax, quinine, potassium perman- 

 ganate. 



Indirect Emmenagogues, which act by improving 

 the blood and toning up the nervous system — iron, 

 manganese, strychnine, cod-liver oil. 



EcBOLics or Oxytocics are agents which produce 

 abortion by stimulating the gravid uterus to contract, 

 or by direct irritation of the uterine centre in the 

 cord — ergot, savine, borax, quinine, pilocarpine, cot- 

 ton-root bark. 



Any violent purgative or gastro-intestinal irritant 

 may produce abortion by reflex action. 



Uterine Depressants lower the activity of the 

 nervo-muscular apparatus by controlling uterine con- 



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