114 
MATERIA MEDICA, 
tion of the men es, unless consequent upon 
defective conformation, or uterine impregna- 
tion, is usually owing to weakness or want ol 
due excitation in the vessels of the uterus. 
This debility is best overcome by ge- 
neral stimulating and tonic agents, which 
thus acting, become- ernrnen igogues, ; some- 
times, however, it is necessary more imme- 
diately and Uirect'v to excite the parts in the 
ticindv of the uterus, by such purgatives 
whose action is principally directed to the in- 
terior portion of the intestinal canal. In this 
case these cathartics prove emmenagogues, 
but not, as was formerly conjectured, by vir- 
tue of any specific power. 
Emmenagogues from the class of tonics. 
Ferrum, the carbonate of iron, rubigo 
ferri praeparata; is given in a dose of ten or 
fifteen grains in amenorrhcea ; the sulphate of 
iron in three or four grains. This last is the 
ferrum vitriolatum of the London pharma- 
copoeia. 
Hydrargrjrus , the mild muriate of mer- 
cury, as already noticed. 
Cinchona, Th s is frequently given in 
amenorrhcea, in conjunction with some of the 
preparations of iron. 
From the class of antispasmodics . 
Castoreum. This is a medicine of very 
trifling efficacy when used as an emineua- 
gogue. Dose from ten to twenty grains. 1 
Ferula assafeetida, and the other foetid | 
gums, (galbanum, sagapenum, and ammoni- 
acum) ar.e employed sometimes as emmena- 
gogues. Dose from ten grains to fifteen. 
From the class of cathartics. 
Aloes. This substance is generally con- 
nected with others when given to promote | 
the menses, as in the pilula aloes cum 
myrrha, &c. 
Flelleborus niger. This is not at present 
in much repute. Dose of the extract from 
three to ten grains. 
Sinapis alba, semen, mustard-seed in the 
dose of about half an ounce is sometimes 
taken as an emmenagogue. 
Rosmarinus officinalis, rosemary, sum- 
mitales fiorentis. This is now nearly banish- 
ed from practice. 
Rubia tinctorum, madder, radix, south of 
Europe. Dose from a scruple to half a 
drachm. Its virtues are not much confided 
in by modern physicians. 
Rutea gravcolens, ruta, rue, herba, south 
of Europe. The herb in the form of infu- 
sion, and likewise its essential oil, are the 
preparations of rue that are given. It is per- 
haps of inferior efficacy. 
Junipcrus sabina, savin, folia, south of 
Europe. Savin is not much used internally, 
although supposed by some to be a powerful 
emmenagogue. 
OF DIURETICS. 
Diuretics are those medicines which aug- 
ment the urinary discharge. This effect is 
either produced by a direct stimulus commu- 
nicated to the kidneys, by a sympathetic 
excitement of these organs from a previous 
action excited in the stomach, or, lastly, by 
the promotion of absorption, by which more 
than their usual quantity is directed to the 
secretory vessels of the urine. The saline 
diaphoretics seem principally to exert their 
agency in the first of these ways. Squill 
and others appear to produce a primary ac- 
tion of the stomach, and digitalis from its 
extraordinary power over the absorbent sys- 
tem is an example of the last-mentioned 
mode of procuring diuresis. 
Saline diuretics. 
Supertartris potasses, cream of tartar, 
Dose four or six drachms twice a day in a 
considerable quantity of water. This has 
been much employed in dropsy-. 
Nitras potasses, nitre. Dose from five to 
twenty grains. Nitre was formerly much 
used in gonorrhoea, in order to abate the 
ardor urinae. 
Marias ammonia’, crude sal ammoniac. 
This is not much employed. Dose from 
eight grains to a scruple. 
Acetis potass ce, sal diureticus. This has 
now likewise fallen into disuse. 
Potassa, kali. The dose of carbonated 
kali is from twenty to thirty grains. 
Vegetable diuretics. 
Scilla marillma. Dose as a diuretic from 
one to three or four grains. 
Digitalis purpurea. Dose from one grain 
to two or more, of the powdered leaves : 
from ten to thirty drops of the saturated 
tincture. The dose requires to be regulated 
and encreased with much caution. 
Nicotiana tabacum. An ounce of the 
dried leaves infused in a pint of water, has 
been given as a diuretic in the dose of from 
sixty to a hundred drops. 
Solarium dulcamara, woody nightshade, 
bitter, sweet, indigenous. This is scarcely 
ever prescribed. 
Lactuca verosa. Dose from ten grains to 
three drachms. It is not much used. 
Colchium autumnale, meadow saffron, in- 
digenous. This lias not been in much use 
in this country. It was first prescribed in 
dropsy by Storck of Vienna. 
Gratiola officinalis, hedge hyssop, south 
' of Europe. The leaves of this plant have 
. likewise been given in dropsy, but they have 
| not come into general use. 
Spartium scoparium, broom, summitales, 
! indigenous. 
I The broom tops infused in water have 
proved advantageous in dropsy. 
Junipcrus communis, juniper, bacot in- 
digenous. Juniper berries given in infusion 
have a pretty considerable diuretic power. 
Copaifcra officinalis, cqpaiva balsam, 
South America. Dose from twenty to thir- 
ty drops twice a day. It is principally em- 
ployed in gleet. 
Firms larix, Venice turpentine, balsainum. 
Dose from five to twelve drops of the essen- 
tial oil. This has likewise been given in 
gleet, and in ischias. 
Pistachia terebinthinus, Cyprus turpen- 
tine. This is more fragrant than the balsam 
from the pinus ; as is likewise Strasburgh 
turpentine, the produce of the pinus picea. 
The common turpentine (pinus sylvestris 
balsam) is on the other hand the most offen- 
sive. 
Diuretics from the animal Kingdom. 
Meloe vesicatorius, cantharides, Spanish 
fly. This is an insect collected from the 
leaves of plants growing in the South of 
Europe. It lias principally been given in- 
ternally for gleet and retention of urine. 
Dose one grain gradually increased. 
OF DIAPHORETICS. 
If the natural and constant exhalation 
from the skin be condensed on the surface 
from its augmented discharge, it constitutes 
sweat. This effect when produced only to 
a certain extent, is called diaphoresis. Dia- 
phoretic and sudorific powers differ then 
only in degree. Diaphoretics are classed by 
Darwin under the head of secernentia. They 
necessarily operate by directly or indirectly 
exciting the cutaneous exhalants. The sa- 
line and cooling diaphoretics appear to act 
in the latter, the heating medicinals which 
are given to procure sweat in the former 
manner. Diaphoretics with respect to their 
iniluence on the system, are often abundant- 
ly powerful anti salutary. 
Ammonia. All saline preparations are- 
more or less diaphoretic under proper regu- 
lation. The animoni cal salts have been 
imagined to be so in a greater degree than, 
others. See Pharmacy. 
Plydrargyrus. The mild muriate (calo- 
mel) in conjunction with opium in very 
small doses, is sometimes usefully employed 
as a diaphoretic. 
Antimonium. All the preparations of an,- 
timony may be made to prove sudorific. 
Ipecacuanha. In a dose of two or three 
grains with or without an opiate. 
Opium. This when employed as a dia- 
phoretic is generally combined with one or 
other of the three former medicines. 
Camphor likewise must be united with 
mercury, antimony, or opium, when it is in- 
tended as a diaphoretic. 
Guaiacum officinale, guaiac lignum, et 
gummi-resina. South America, and the West 
Indies. Guaiac wood is given in the form 
of decoction, a quart of which is given in 
the course o. the day. The gam-resin is 
commonly administered in spirit ot ammonia, 
from which it derives a considerable part ®f 
its virtues. Dose from one drachm , to two 
ot the tincture. 
Daphne mezereUm n zereon, cortex ra~ 
dicis indigenq rs. This is a. stimulating dia- 
phoretic: it is generally given in lues venerea, 
wit\ sarsaparilla and guaiac, forming the Lis- 
bon diet-drink. 
Srniiax sarsaparilla, radix. South Ameri- 
ca. This has scarcely any power exclusive- 
ly employed. 
Lauras sassafras,. sassafras, lignum, Ame- 
rica. This is slightly stimulant and diapho- 
retic. It is probably less efficacious than has . 
generally been imagined. 
Cachlearia armoracia,. horse-radish, radix, 
indigenous. This is a stimulant capable of 
promoting perspiration. About a drachm 
of the root cut in small pieces and swallowed 
whole, has been recommended in paralysis, 
rheumatism, asthma, and dropsy. 
Salvia officinalis, sage, folia, south of 
Europe. Its aqueous infusion drunk warm 
is slightly stimulaiff and diaphoretic. 
EXPECTORANTS 
Are those medicines which facilitate the 
rejection of mucus or other fluids from the 
lungs. This object is accomplished by in- 
creasing pulmonary exhalation where de- 
ficient, or diminishing it wffien too copious. 
In the one instance expectorants are secer- 
nent, in the other absorbent powers : their 
operation, like that of emetics, is in both 
cases either direct or indirect. 
Antimonium. The most common prepa- 
ration of antimony for an expectorant is the 
emetic tartar of the shops. This is given in 
