Emmenagogues are remedies which have the property of exciting the catamenial flow; ecbolics, or abortives, are drugs which excite contraction of the uterus, and are supposed to have the power of expelling its contents. The vegetable substances commonly reputed to be abortives are ergot, savin, aloes (Hierapicra), digitalis, colocynth, pennyroyal, and nutmeg; but there is no evidence to show that any drug possesses this property. Lead in some parts of the country is a popular abortifacient. A medicine may be an emmenagogue without being an ecbolic. Permanganate of potassium and binoxide of manganese are valuable remedies for amenorrhoea, but will not produce abortion. The vegetable substances frequently used as abortives are savin and ergot.

Savin (Juniperus Sabina).—Leaves and tops of the plant yield an acrid oil having poisonous properties, and which has even produced death.

Symptoms.—Those of irritant poisons. Purging not always present, but tenesmus and strangury.

Post-Mortem Appearances.—Acute inflammation of alimentary canal. Green powder found. This, washed and dried and then rubbed, gives odour of savin.

Test.—A watery solution of savin strikes deep green with perchloride of iron, and if an infusion of the twigs has been taken the twigs may be detected with the microscope. The twigs obtained from the stomach, dried and rubbed between the finger and thumb, will give the odour of savin.

Ergot (Secale Cornutum).—A parasitic fungus attacking wheat, barley, oats, and rye, which is reputed to have the power of causing contraction of unstriped muscular fibre, especially that of the uterus.

Symptoms.—Lassitude, headache, nausea, diarrhoea, anuria, convulsions, coma. Small quantities frequently repeated have in the past produced gangrene of the extremities, or anÆsthesia of fingers and toes.

Tests.—Lake-red colour with liquor potassÆ; this liquid filtered gives a precipitate of same colour with nitric acid.