. An analytical compendium of the various branches of medical science, for the use and examination of students. Anatomy; Physiology; Surgery; Obstetrics; Medicine; Materia Medica. 102 MATERIA. MEDICA. CLASS XVIII^—EMOLLIENTS. " Medicines which soften and relax the skin, when externally ap- ; They diminish the pain and tension of inflamed parts, often assisting in producing resolution ; or if too far advanced for that, they aid the suppurative process. Their action is believed to be purely mechanical. They all owe their efficacy to moisture; in fact, ivater is, by some, consider
. An analytical compendium of the various branches of medical science, for the use and examination of students. Anatomy; Physiology; Surgery; Obstetrics; Medicine; Materia Medica. 102 MATERIA. MEDICA. CLASS XVIII^—EMOLLIENTS. " Medicines which soften and relax the skin, when externally ap- ; They diminish the pain and tension of inflamed parts, often assisting in producing resolution ; or if too far advanced for that, they aid the suppurative process. Their action is believed to be purely mechanical. They all owe their efficacy to moisture; in fact, ivater is, by some, considered the only emollient; a tempera- ture above 62° F. is requisite; aqueous vapour still more emollient than warm water. The usual method of applying emollients is by cataplasm, of which the best is that made from flaxseed meal. Nearly all the demulcents have an emollient effect when externally applied. CLASS XIX. —DEMULCENTS. " Substances of a bland unirritating nature, capable of forming a viscid solution with ; They are closely allied to emollients; in fact they produce the same eflfect upon the internal passages as the latter do upon the skin. They consist chiefly of gum, sugar, oil, or starch, and are useful both as adjuvants to other acrid or irri- tating medicines, and also, when given alone, to defend inflamed or irritated surfaces, with which they come into direct contact, as the stomach and bowels,—when they may be given either by the mouth, or by enema. Also very much used in inflammations and irritations of parts on which their action must be indirect, as in bronchitis and urinary disorders ; in the latter instances, they probably act by being absorbed. Several of the demulcents are much used as articles of diet for the sick. Gum Arabic.—(Acacia, U. S.) Product of several species of Acacia^ especially the A. vera, A. Senegal, and A. Arabica. They are thorny shrubs, or trees, growing in the deserts of Arabia, Africa and India. The gum exudes sp
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