CATHARTIC, any remedy that will cause an increased discharge from the intestinal canal. For purposes of general description there are four classes of cathartics. These are mild cathartics, or laxatives; simple purges, drastic purges and hydragogues. Catharsis is accom plished either by increasing the amount of water in the intestines or by stimulating the movements of the intestines—peristalsis. The laxatives are water, sugar, honey, fruits, stringy vegetables, coarse bread, cassia fistula, sulphur, figs, etc.; these act either by giving bulk, stimulation of peristalsis, or by adding water, all of the sugars attracting water from the intestinal wall. The simple purges act usually by stimulating peristalsis. These are castor oil, cascara sagrada, rhubarb, aloes, senna, iris, podophyllum, leptandra, calomel, etc. The drastic purges stimulate peristalsis, and many of them cause a flow of water into the intestine. The simple, purges in large doses are drastic. Gamboge, jalap, colocynth, scam mony, croton oil and elaterium are drastic. Another class of cathartics are salty, and by osmosis attract water into the intestines and stimulate the motor activity of the intestines; they thus act as hydragogues and are termed the saline cathartics. Those most commonly
used are epsom salts, rochelle salts, magnesium oxide, citrate, sodium phosphate, tartrate and bitartrate. Most of the mineral waters belong to this class of cathartic. In former times cholagogues were described as cathartics that 'stirred up the liver secretions." It is now fairly well recognized that those drugs that stimulate peristalsis affect the gall bladder, causing it to empty itself more actively, and that the liver is unaffected. The only true hepatic stimulant that is now recognized is ox-gall. This is fre quently employed as a cathartic. Abuse of cathartics is an evil above all description. It is almost safe to assert that the injudicious use of the many patent cathartic pills on the market is responsible for more intestinal trouble than any other agent. They teach people to be unduly occupied with their intestinal functions and work incalculable injury. See CONSTIPA TION.