ENDER'MIC (from Gk. iv, en, in + dep,ua, derma, skin) and HY'PODERMIC (from Gk. i74, hypo, under pua, derma, skin). Terms used to designate certain methods of making the skin an avenue for the reception of medicines. The endermic method consists in raising a blister by the ordinary process, opening it by a small puncture, which must not be at the lowest part of t he bladder, gently pressing out the fluid contents, and then injecting, a medicinal solution, by means of a small syringe, through the puneture into the mpticd sae; or, if the an4lieine is in the form of powder, it may be scattered over the raw sur face. The endemic nwthod is now almost entire ly superseded by the method. in willed, medicines are introduced into the subcutaneous cellular tissue by means of a very finely pointed syringe. For the invention of this process, the science of medicine is indebted to Dr. Alexander Wood, of Edinburgh. It has been found that morphine, for example, given hypodermically. acts mono speedily and more powerfully than when given by the month: moreover. the medicine given in this way does not disturb the functions of the stomach. and may he administered in those eases of irritation of that organ in which medicines introduced into it would he rejected by vontitin!t.
Ila comparing the effects of medicines sub cutaneously injected with those produced when they ant administered by the mouth, or by in jection to the lower bowel. it is found that, in the case of conic drugs, the local is dif ferent accenting to the mode of administration.
although the general effects produced are of the same kind. aconit ine given by the mouth ITect s the salivary glands: W11111 given by the rectum it causes irritation of the got : and when given by the skin it ()evasions local pain. The dices of foorphithc a hen injected under the skin are also more rapidly manifested and more in tense than when given by the mouth or rectum. A solution of podophyllin which, when adminis tered by the mouth, acts as a powerful chola gogne (bile-provoking) aperient, when injected into the skin gives rise to free action of the kid neys. The investigations of the therapeutic value of this mode of administering drugs were limited by the fact that many substances (aconitine, for example) give rise to great local irritation when used subcutaneously. As a general rule, only neutral solutions of drugs should he employed, decidedly acid or alkaline solutions being apt, to cause irritation, and even local ulcers, at the point of application. As in the case of podophyl lin. symptoms are observed to follow the admin istration of sumac drugs by the skin, which are wanting when the same drugs are otherwise ad ministered. The advantages to be derived from this method of introducing drugs are (a) rapid ity of action, (b) intensity of effect, (a) economy of material, (d) certainty of action, (e) facility of introduction in certain cases, and, (f) in some drugs. the avoidance of unpleasant symptoms.