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 and
have 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.