Ecbolics

/ɛkˈbɑːlɪks/ noun

Definition

Plural of ecbolic; medicines or substances that promote expulsion of material from the body.

Etymology

Plural form of 'ecbolic' (see above). Medical texts from the 16th-18th centuries frequently listed various ecbolics as remedies, particularly for obstetric purposes.

Kelly Says

Old medical texts are full of recipes for ecbolics—some were plants, some were minerals, and a lot of them probably did absolutely nothing! But they show how systematically ancient doctors tried to use chemistry.

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