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REMEDIAL AGENTS. 103

DETERGENTS.
Detergents are medicinal agents capable of cleansing ulcers,
suppurating wounds, etc., by acting as either stimulants or
emollients. Included in this class are such agents as borax,
burnt alum, sllppery-elm bark, acacia, flaxseed, tragacanth, etc.
DEODORIZERS.
Deodorizers are medicinal agents capable of destroying infections
and fetid odors. Included in this class are carbolic acid, sali-
cylic acid, creasote, chloride of lime, charcoal, permanganate of
potash, thymol, chloride of zinc, solution of chloride of soda, oil
of eucalyptus, iodoform, menthol, hydrochloric acid, nitric acid,
sulphuric acid, etc., etc. (See Jntiseptics.)
DILUENTS.
Diluents are medicinal agents capable of diluting the blood and
thus increasing its fluidity ; at the same time exercising a solvent
action and eliminating a portion of the solid constituents. In^
eluded in this class are such agents as water, aerated water, min-
eral waters, rice water, beef tea, whey, barley water, gruel, etc., etc.

DISCUTIENTS.
Discutients are medicinal agents capable of reducing and de-
pressing morbid growths, swellings, etc. Included in this class
are iodine, mercury, bromide of potassium, iodide of potassium,
chlorate of potassium, arsenic, colchicum, etc., etc.

DISINFECTANTS.
Disinfectants are medicinal agents capable of depriving effluvia
of their morbific properties by chemically combining with them.
Included in this class are such agents as chlorine, carbolic acid,
carbolate of lime, chloride of lime, salicylic acid, solution of chlori-
nated soda, charcoal, creasote, hydrochloric acid, sulphuric acid,
nitric acid and chloride of zinc. (See Antiseptics and Deodorizers.)

EMOLLIENTS.
Emollients, or Protectives^ are medicinal agents capable of re-
laxing soft tissues, allaying irritation, protecting sensitive surfaces,