The virtues of our most important remedies are frequently lost, or much invalidated, for want of proper attention to the circumstances comprehended in this section. It may be almost admitted as an axiom that _whenever an_ ALTERATIVE _medicine acts with violence upon the primæ viæ, its energies are uselessly expended, and the object of its exhibition defeated_. So again, _Diaphoretics_, _Diuretics_, and many other remedies, suffer a diminution in their effects, whenever they stimulate the stomach or bowels to excess. _Guaiacum_ thus loses its anti-arthritic, _Squill_ its diuretic, and _Antimony_ and _Ipecacuan_ their diaphoretic, virtues; the action of these substances may therefore require correction, and a medicine must be selected capable of fulfilling that intention. _Opium_ has very extensive powers as a corrigent. _See Form. 57, 100, 106, 110_. Dr. Mead combined alkaline salts, when intended to act as diuretics, with opium, in order to prevent their action upon the bowels. _Acetate of Lead_, when administered in cases of hæmopthysis, or uterine hemorrhage, should also be guarded by the addition of a small portion of the same narcotic. Dr. Sutton, of Greenwich, has lately written a paper to shew, that where we wish to limit the operation of an emetic to the stomach, and to prevent its action on the bowels, we should add five or six drops of laudanum to the emetic draught, which in his experience has answered the purpose in question.[259] The griping and nauseating tendency of some remedies receives correction by the addition of _Aromatic stimulants_, or _Essential oils_, (69, 71, 78, 84, 85, 92,) or by small portions of a corresponding tincture, (70, 76.) It has been already stated, that the griping from _Senna_ and _resinous_ purgatives may be, in a great degree, obviated by the addition of alkalies; it remains to be observed, that the same remedies are also mitigated in severity, by _saline_ purgatives, (77.) I learn from Sir Henry Halford, that in his practice he has found the addition of _Extract of Hyoscyamus_ render the operation of the _compound extract of Colocynth_ much more mild, and no less efficacious. Of the value of such a combination, I am myself able to bear ample testimony. _Alum_ is corrected in its tendency to disturb the bowels by the addition of _Nutmeg_, (_Form. 53_,) or some aromatic; and the drastic operation of _Colocynth_ may be mitigated by trituration with _Camphor_. There are several substances which are deprived of their acrimonious qualities by trituration with mucilage, milk, barley-water, &c. The tendency which mercurial preparations possess of affecting the bowels, is, with the exception of _Corrosive Sublimate_, corrected by _Opium_, but the acrid operation of this latter salt is more securely guarded against by the decoction of _Guaiacum_ or _Mezereon_, or by the plentiful exhibition of mucilaginous drinks and broths. In certain diseases of the uterus and vagina, astringent lotions are indicated, but