Diuretics

Diuretics, medicines having the property of increasing the secretion or excretion of urine, and on this account much employed in dropsies, as well as in a variety of other diseases. The principal diuretics are the salts of potash, especially the nitrate, acetate, and bitartrate (cream of tartar); squill, in powder, vinegar, or syrup; digitalis or foxglove, in powder or infusion; the decoction or infusion of broom-tops (scoparium); nitrons ether (in sweet spirit of nitre); caffeine, the active principle of coffee; the alcohols and ethers, with most of the volatile oils, especially that of juniper, as in gin; the berries of the common elder; the tincture of cantharides or Spanish flies; turpentine, &c. The last named (from the alcohols onwards in the above enumeration) are more or less irritating in their effects on the urinary organs, and should not be used without due consideration as to the requirements of the particular case. Cream of tartar and the broom-decoction form one of the safest and best diuretic mixtures which can be employed in domestic use; or cream of tartar may be given alone, either dissolved in hot water and allowed to cool, or in substance along with syrup.