Hypocist

( Bot. ) See CYTINACEE. Hypodermics. Medicines administered by being forced under the skin by aid of a hollow needle attached to a syringe. The first employment of the hypodermic method was by Dr. Wood, of Edinburgh, in 1843, who injected a solution of morphine through the skin. The method was soon followed by others, and its employment has become general in suitable cases. In hypodermic injection the medicament is drawn into the syringe, filling it sufficiently to drive out all the air. The needle is then attached, and its point driven well through the skin, so that it may reach the loose connective ti ue beneath, into which it is desired that the liquid shall pa . The needle should be quickly inserted, as this gives le pain, but the injection should be slowly made. It is generally given in the arm or the thigh, and care is taken to avoid veins, lest the drug should be carried directly to the heart, within which organ it might cause mischief. Antiseptic measures are nece ary, there being no danger of absce es from ordinary injections if this is properly attended to. The quantity of medicine used in this manner is about one-quarter or one-half of that taken by the mouth. The advantage lies in the rapid absorp tion of the drug in case of a nece ity for immediate action.