Vegetables containing volatile oils.—The aromatic Labiatæ, Compositæ, and Umbelliferæ. Cloves and Nutmeg. Cinnamon, Cassia, Sassafras. Rue, Barosma. The Aurantiaceæ. Canella. Valerian. Mustard. Cajeput and Pimenta. Hops. Juniper, Turpentine. Cardamom. Onion.
Vegetables containing acrid principles.—Senega. Horseradish. Serpentary. Cascarilla. Pepper. Contrajerva. Ginger. Capsicum. Mezereon.
Resinous substances.—Guaiacum. Mastich, Olibanum, Myrrh, Elemi. Copaiba. Peru, Tolu. Assafœtida, Ammoniacum, Galbanum. Benzoin, Storax. Pine resin.)
This list of General Stimulants is long, but it might even be further extended. The majority are produced by the vegetable kingdom. The acrid principles to which some owe their power are intermediate in nature between volatile oils and resins. Some of them are volatile, like the former; others fixed, like the latter. Some of the resinous products contain also a volatile oil. The principles of Capsicum and Mezereon are very similar in their chemical nature to the true resins. (Vide page 85.)
These remedies differ very much in power, but their influence is the same in character. They exalt nervous force in general. They seem to act on the whole nervous system; but their most obvious action is to increase the force and frequency of the pulse, and to invigorate the circulation. They are not, for the most part, very powerful medicines; and their action is seldom so violent as to be succeeded by much reaction. They improve digestion for a time, by a stimulation of the sympathetic nerves of the stomach and other viscera. In large doses they are irritants, and may impair the digestive powers, and cause headache. Though possessing no marked stimulant power over the function of mind, like that of the Inebriant Narcotics, yet they certainly exalt the activity of the brain, along with the other nervous forces.
Dr. Pereira classes the majority of Stimulants among Ganglionics, considering that they only act on parts supplied by the sympathetic system of nerves. But this view of their operation appears to me to be too limited; for all of them seem to have a certain action on the brain.
Thus Ammonia is used in Syncope, a state which no doubt depends upon a shock received by the brain. And there are several things which show that it relieves this state more by stimulating the brain than by merely rousing the heart and vascular system. It is found to be most effectual when inhaled through the nose; by which means it could easily pass at once into the cerebral circulation. Dr. Pereira thinks that when administered in the liquid form it can only pass into the blood as a salt, being neutralized by the stomach-acid. In this case it could only act before absorption. But it is probable that it is too diffusible and too rapidly absorbed to be entirely so neutralized; and besides, its operation when inhaled is the same as when ingested, which seems to point to an agency after absorption in the latter case. For when inhaled, it must be absorbed in the free state. And to suppose that it acts by stimulating the nerves of the stomach only, is to receive a thing for which we find no parallel in the action of medicines. (Vide Prop. I.)
Ammonia has been used with advantage in the prevention of Epileptic fits, being given just before their expected occurrence. It could hardly be of use in this disorder unless it affected the brain.
Other General Stimulants manifest this action on the brain to a greater or less degree.