MATERIA MEDICA (Lat. mat tee), that division or branch of medical sci ence which treats of drugs, their origin, classifi cation as natural products, preparation, purifi cation, action on the animal economy, together with the mode of administering them for the relief and cure of disease. The action of the various agents in the materia medics upon the human family has been ascertained by experi ence, sometimes by experiment, especially by administering various drugs to some of the lower order of animals such as dogs, cats, rabbits, guinea pigs, rats and mice. Perhaps the best general classification of medicine is as stimulants, sedatives, narcotics, emetics, altera tives, tonics, anesthetics, antispasmodics, as tringents, spinants, cathartics, diaphoretics, diuretics, blennorrhetics, emmenagogues, hama finks, antacids, irritants, demulcents, coloring agents and anthelmintics. This classification
is based upon the direct effect of the different drugs upon the tissues of the human economy under the various headlings which drugs may be conveniently grouped under four general sections, namely: 1. Those which have a special action on the brain, spinal cord and the general nervous system. 2. Those which have a special action on the secretions. 3. Those which change the blood. 4. Those which act locally, when applied to the surface of the body. Section (1) includes antispasmodics, anesthet ics, astringents, narcotics, tonics, sedatives, spinants and stimulants. Section (2) includes the emetics, emmenagogues, blennorrhetics, diuretics, diaphoretics and cathartics. Section (3) includes alteratives, antacids and hzmatin ics. Section (4) includes anthelmintics, color ing agents, demulcents and irritants. See