Part 2

GENERAL ACTIONS OF MEDICINES

ALTERATIVE.--A medicine that alters the process of nutrition, so as to overcome morbid conditions of the body as Arcenous Acid, Potassium Iodide, etc.

ANAESTHETIC.--Medicines used to produce insensibility to pain, and they are divided into Local and General Anaesthetics.

GENERAL ANAESTHETICS.--Are inhaled and carried by the blood to the brain and spinal cord, where they paralyze the nerve centers, cause muscular relaxation and finally produce entire suspension of sensation and power of motion, together with a loss of consciousness, and apparent life, except breathing and the action of the heart. They comprise Nitrous Oxide Gas, Ether and Chloroform, etc.

LOCAL ANAESTHETICS.--As a rule, are injected hypodermically or applied to open wounds. They cause temporary loss of local or circumscribed sensation by paralyzing the sensory nerves. When applied in the form of liniments they resemble anodynes, but act more promptly and profoundly. They comprise Cocaine, Eucaine, etc.

ANALGESIC.--A medicine used to relieve pain, as Opium, etc.

ANAPHRODISIAC.--A medicine used to produce absence or impairment of sexual appetite, as Potassium Bromide, etc.

ANHIDROTIC.--A medicine that diminishes the secretion of perspiration as Belladonna, etc.

ANODYNE.--A medicine that lessens sensibility to pain, by diminishing the excitability of nerve centers, as Cannabis Indica, Chloral Hydrate, etc.

ANODYNES LOCAL.--Are drugs that diminish pain by acting locally on sensory nerves, and are applied in the form of a liniment over painful swellings, as Belladonna, Aconite, Opium, hot and cold packs, etc.

ANTACID.--A medicine that counteracts or neutralizes acidity of the stomach or intestines as liquor Potassium, Sodium Carbonate and Bicarbonate, etc.

ANTAGONISTIC.--A medicine which counteracts the action of another medicine in the system, as would Potassium Bromide and Nux Vomica or Strychnine.

ANTHELMINTIC.--A medicine efficiently destroying or expelling worms or preventing their development, as Santonin, Arecae Nut, etc.

ANTIDOTE.--A substance preventing or counteracting the action of a poison. Antidotes are distinguished as: chemical, those that change the chemical nature of the poison; mechanical, those that prevent absorption of poison; physiologic, those that counteract the effects of poison by producing other effects.

ANTIEMETIC.--A medicine which prevents or arrests vomiting, as Bismuth Subnitrate.

ANTIFEBRILE.--A medicine that reduces temperature, as Acetanilid, etc.

ANTIFERMENT.--A medicine which prevents the formation of gases, as Sodium Bicarbonate, Turpentine, etc.

ANTIGALACTIC.--A medicine which lessens the secretion of milk, as Belladonna, Tannin, etc.

ANTIPARASITIC.--An agent which destroys and repels insects, as essential oils, powdered tobacco, sulphur and naphthalin, etc.

ANTIPERIODIC.--A medicine that tends to prevent the periodic recurrence of a disease, as Quinine Sulphate, Arsenous Acid, etc.

ANTIPERISTALTIC OR ANTIPERISTALSIS.--Are medicines that produce compression of peristalsis or the worm-like movement of the intestines by which method the alimentary canal propels its contents, as Opium.

ANTIPHLOGISTIC.--A medicine or agent subduing or reducing inflammation or fever, as in bloodletting, applications of cold packs or the administration of Aconite, Acetanilide, etc.

ANTIRHEUMATIC.--A medicine that prevents or cures rheumatism, as Sodium Salicylates, etc.

ANTIPYRETIC.--A medicine which reduces body temperature in fever, as Quinine Sulphate, Salicylic Acid, etc.

ANTISEPTIC.--A medicine which arrests putrefaction on or in the body, or hinders septic decomposition by killing the germs that produce it or by checking their development, as Carbolic Acid, Zinc Sulphocarbolates, etc.

ANTISPASMODIC.--A medicine which prevents or removes spasmodic contraction of voluntary or involuntary muscles, as Belladonna, Valerian, Chloral Hydrate, etc.

ANTITOXIN.--A counter poison or antidote generated within the body to counteract the toxins of bacteria. Antitoxins are frequently injected hypodermically in the treatment of certain infectious diseases and also to immunize against disease, as Tetanus Antitoxin for the treatment of tetanus or lockjaw, etc.

ANTIVENENE.--A name applied to blood-serum of animals rendered immune against snake-poison owing to its antidotal properties.