Emmenagogues
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EMMENAGOGUES, med. jur. The name of a class of medicines which are believed to have the power. of favoring the discharge of the menses. These are black hellebore, savine, (vide Juneperius Sabina,) madder, mercury, polygala, senega, and pennyroyal. They are sometimes used for the criminal purpose of producing abortion. (q.v.) They always endanger the life of the woman. 1 Beck's Medical Jur. 316; Dungl. Med. Diet. h.t.; Parr's Med. Dict. h.t.; 3 Paris and Fonbl. Aled. Jur. 88.
A Law Dictionary, Adapted to the Constitution and Laws of the United States. By John Bouvier. Published 1856.