Cathartics

(kath-artiks.) [From. Gr. kathartikos, fit for purification.] (Med.) Medicines which cleanse the stomach and bowels by acting as purgatives. C. are of two kinds -purgative and drastic: the first comprises the milder remedies, as senna,jalap, Epsom salts, castor oil, .; the latter the more powerful, such as croton oil, . [s. 154]