GLOSSARY OF MATERIA MEDICA.
In the following Glossary will be found short definitions of many of the terms employed in the Dispensatory to designate the medical properties of the remedies; most of the words are commonly employed as nouns, and sometimes as adjectives.
- Absorbents.—Drugs used to produce absorption of exudates or diseased tissues.
- Abstergents.—Detergents (cleansing agents).
- Alteratives.—Medicines used to so modify nutrition as to overcome morbid processes.
- Analeptics.—Restorative medicines or food.
- Analgesics.—Medicines used to allay pain.
- Anaphrodisiacs.—Medicines used to allay sexual feeling.
- Anesthetics.—Medicines used to produce anesthesia or unconsciousness.
- Anodynes.—Medicines used to allay pain.
- Antacids.—Medicines used to neutralize acid in the stomach and intestines.
- Anthelmintics.—Medicines used to destroy intestinal worms.
- Antiarthritics.—Medicines used for the relief of gout.
- Antihydropics.—Medicines used for the relief of dropsy.
- Antilithics.—Medicines used for the relief of calculous affections.
- Antiperiodics.—Medicines used for the relief of malarial fevers.
- Antipyretics.—Medicines used for the reduction of bodily temperature in fevers.
- Antiseptics.—Substances which have the power of preventing putrefaction.
- Antispasmodics.—Medicines used for the relief of nervous
- irritability and minor spasms.
- Antisyphilitics.—Medicines used for the relief of syphilis.
- Antizymotics.—Substances which have the power of killing disease germs.
- Aperients.—Mild purgatives.
- Aphrodisiacs.—Substances used to increase sexual power or excitement.
- Aromatic Bitters.—Medicines which unite the properties of
- the aromatic and simple bitters.
- Aromatics.—Medicines characterized by a fragrant or spicy taste and odor,
- and stimulant to the gastro-intestinal mucous membrane.
- Astringents.—Medicines having the power of influencing vital
- contractility, thereby condensing tissues.
- Bitters, Simple.—Medicines which have a bitter taste andhave the power
- of stimulating the gastro-intestinal mucous membrane,
- without affecting the general system.
- Blisters.—Medicines which when locally applied cause inflammatory exudation
- of serum from the skin, and are used as revulsants.
- Calefacients.—Medicines used externally to cause a sense of warmth.
- Cardiac Depressants.—Medicines used to lower the heart’s action.
- Cardiac Stimulants.—Medicines used to increase the heart’s action.
- Carminatives.—Medicines containing a volatile oil used to excite intestinal
- peristalsis and provoke an expulsion of flatus.
- Cathartics.—Purgatives.
- Caustics.—Medicines used to destroy living tissues.
- Cholagogues.—Medicines which provoke a flow of bile.
- Constringents.—Astringents.
- Convulsants.—Medicines which cause convulsions.
- Correctives.—Medicines used to correct or render more pleasant
- the action of other remedies, especially purgatives.
- Corrigents.—Correctives.
- Demulcents.—Mucilaginous principles which are used in solution to
- soothe and protect irritated mucous membranes and other tissues.
- Deobstruents (obsolete and not very definite).—Medicines
- which overcome obstruction; aperients.
- Deodorants.—Substances which destroy or hide foul air.
- Depilatories.—Substances used to remove hair.
- Depressants.—Sedatives.
- Depressomotors.—Medicines which lessen motor activity.
- Depurants.—Medicines which act upon the emunctories so as
- to cause excretion and thereby purify the system.
- Detergents.—Medicines which cleanse wounds, ulcers, etc.
- Diaphoretics.—Medicines which produce sweating.
- Digestants.—Ferments and acids which have the power of
- aiding in the solution of food.
- Diluents.—Medicines which dilute secretions and excretions.
- Disinfectants.—Substances which have the power of destroying disease germs
- or the noxious properties of decaying organic matter.
- Diuretics.—Medicines which increase the secretion of urine.
- Drastics.—Purgatives which cause much irritation.
- Ecbolics.—Medicines which produce abortion.
- Eccoprotics or Ectoprotics.—Laxatives.
- Emetics.—Medicines which cause vomiting.
- Emmenagogues.—Medicines which stimulate menstruation.
- Emollients.—Substances used to mechanically soften and protect tissues.
- Epispatics.—Blisters.
- Errhines.—Medicines which increase the nasal secretions.
- Escharotics.—Caustics.
- Evacuants.—Medicines which evacuate; chiefly applied to purgatives.
- Excitants.—Stimulants.
- Excitomotors.—Medicines which increase motor activity.
- Expectorants.—Medicines which act upon the pulmonic mucous
- membrane and increase or alter its secretions.
- Febrifuges.—Medicines which dissipate fever.
- Galactagogues.—Medicines which increase the secretion of milk.
- Germicides.—Agents that destroy germs.
- Hemostatics.—Medicines which arrest hemorrhages.
- Hydragogues.—Purgatives which cause large watery discharges.
- Hypnotics.—Medicines which cause sleep.
- Laxatives.—Mild purgatives.
- Local Anesthetics.—Medicines which when applied locally destroy sensation.
- Mydriatics.—Medicines which cause mydriasis, or dilation of the pupil.
- Myotics.—Medicines which cause myosis, or contraction of the pupil.
- Narcotics.—Powerful anodyne hypnotics.
- Neurotics.—Medicines which act upon the nervous system.
- Nutriants.—Medicines which modify the nutritive processes.
- Nutrients.—Substances which nourish.
- Oxytocics.—Medicines which stimulate uterine contractions.
- Peristaltics.—Medicines which increase peristalsis.
- Prophylactics.—Medicines which prevent the taking or development of disease.
- Protectives.—Medicines which protect a part when applied to it.
- Ptyalagogues.—Sialagogues.
- Purgatives.—Medicines which produce copious discharges from the bowels.
- Refrigerants.—Medicines which lessen bodily temperature.
- Revulsants.—Medicines which by causing irritation draw nervous
- force and blood from a distant diseased part.
- Rubefacients.—Medicines which cause irritation and redness,
- and are used as revulsants.
- Sedatives.—Medicines which lower functional activity.
- Sialagogues.—Medicines which excite salivary glands to secretion.
- Somnifacients.—Soporifics.
- Soporifics.—Medicines which cause sleep.
- Sorbefacients.—Medicines which cause absorption.
- Specifics.—Medicines which have a direct curative influence
- on certain individual diseases.
- Stimulants.—Medicines which increase functional activity.
- Stomachics.—Stimulants to the stomach.
- Styptics.—Hemostatics.
- Sudorifics.—Medicines which produce sweating.
- Tenicides.—Medicines which kill the tapeworm.
- Tonics.—Medicines which permanently increase the systemic
- tone by stimulating nutrition.
- Vermicides.—Medicines which kill intestinal worms.
- Vermifuges.—Medicines which cause the expulsion of intestinal worms.
- Vesicatories.—Blisters.