MATERIA MEDICA. 
serosity ; a change in the balance of circu- 
lation ; a diminution of perspiration ; higher 
excitement of the nervous energy in the 
system in general, but more .especially in 
the intestinal canal. 
The indications which cathartic medi- 
cines are capable of fulfilling, may be de- 
rived from the three following sources: 
1. From their producing evacuation : 
whence they may be employed, to obvi- 
ate morbid retention of the contents of the 
intestines ; to diminish the quantity of 
circulating fluids when too great for the 
then state of the system ; to evacuate 
morbid accumulations of serum. 2. From 
their altering the balance of circulation ; 
whence they may be employed to promote 
free circulation through the intestines, in 
those cases where it is morbidly impeded ; 
and to diminish the impetus of the blood 
against parts morbidly affected. 3. From the 
affection of the nervous system which they 
occasion : whence they may be employed to 
remove torpor in the muscular fibres of the 
intestines ; and to restrain inordinate mo- 
tions in their muscular fibres. These indi- 
cations may be illustrated and confirmed, 
from considering the effects of this class of 
medicines as employed in dysentery, small- 
pox, dropsy, obstructed menstruation and 
diarrhoea. 
The cautions to be observed in the em- 
ployment of cathartics, as derived from 
their nature, chiefly respect the degree of 
evacuation they produce from the circu- 
lating fluids, and the topical irritation they 
occasion to the, intestines themselves. The 
conditions of the system which chiefly re- 
quire attention in their employment, are 
childhood, female habits, hysterical consti- 
tutions, high degrees both of irritability 
and toi-por, remarkable delicacy of the 
stomach, and peculiar antipathies. The 
circumstances chiefly to be regarded with 
respect to the regimen necessary for this 
class, are, the mode of exhibiting the 
cathartic-; the time at which it is given; 
the temperature in which the patient is 
kept during its operation ; the diet em- 
ployed ; and the degree of exercise he 
uses. 
The morbid conditions, contra-indicat- 
ing the use of cathartic medicines, apply 
only to particular orders. The stimulant, 
refrigerant, and astringent, are contra-indi- 
cated by general inanition of the system ; 
the stimulant Ivy a high degree of iiritabi- 
lity in the intestines, and by morbidly acce- 
lerated circulation; the refrigerant by a 
circulation unusually slow and languid ;.tlie 
astringent by habitual costiveness ; and the 
emollient by uncommon relaxation of the 
bowels. 
6. Of Emmenagogues. 
By emmenagogues are meant medicines 
which possess a power of promoting that 
periodical secretion from the uterus which 
should take place in certain conditions of 
the female frame. The following, there- 
fore, are their effects : They stimulate the 
whole circulating system. They stimulate, 
in a particular manner, the vessels in the 
neighbourhood of the uterus ; and this 
effect seems, in some degree, to be com- 
municated to the vessels of the uterus them- 
selves. They occasion a particular affec- 
tion of |he whole nervous system. The 
changes induced in the system from the 
primary effects of emmenagogues, are, an 
increase in the impetus of the blood circu- 
lating through the uterus and its neighbour- 
hood ; and an augmentation of the quan- 
tity of blood determined to the uterus. 
From some individuals referred to this 
class, there arises an increase of the tonic 
powers of the vessels in the uterus, and 
from others a diminution of it. Emmena- 
gogues may be divided into the following 
tribes ; stimulant, as various forms of quick- 
silver and antimony ; irritant, as aloes, sa- 
vin, cantharides ; tonic, as iron, cold bath, 
corporeal exercise ; and antispasmodic, as 
assafoetida, castor, warm foot-bath. 
Their indications may be thus traced : 
1. From their changing the mode of circu- 
lation, whence they may be employed to 
free the circulatory system in the neigh- 
bourhood of the uterus when obstructed 
there ; to promote that accumulation of 
fluid in the vessels of the uterus themselves, 
which is necessary to the menstrual di.s- 
charge : and to remove morbid obstructions 
to the passage of blood into the cavity of 
the uterus. 2. From their acting on the 
state of the animated solids. Hence they 
may be used, to increase the tonic power 
of the system where it is morbidly dimi- 
nished. To increase the tonic power in the 
vessels of the uterus in particular, when 
deficient there. To remove spasmodic 
stricture taking place on the ve.ssels of the 
uterus. 
Practical observation in different cases 
of obstructed menstruation arising from 
different causes, will illustrate and confirm 
these various indications. 
The cautions to be observed in the era- 
