GLOSSARY OF MATERIA MEDICA.
Reading edition
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.