Tonic

(ton'-ik). I. Invigorating, or strengthening the economy; bracing, or strengthening. 2. Characterized by continuous tension; not clonic. 3. A medicine or agent which promotes nutrition and gives tone to the system. T. Spasm, the continued, rigid contraction of a muscle or muscles. T. Treatment: 1. Treatment of diseases by tonics, as, e.g., of rheumatism, by iron and remedies of the group of tonics. 2. The continuous treatment of syphilis by the use of the pro to iodid of mercury for two or three years. The dose is '4 grain after each meal, gradually increased until there are positive evidences of intestinal irritation, when the dose is cut down to the initial one, and that maintained for a time.