Various means are employed to facilitate or hasten the operation of the ordinary emetics; and not unfrequently these means are sufficient of themselves to provoke vomiting, when there is a strong disposition to the act.

Warm water, taken very freely, is one of the most efficient. From one to four tumblerfuls may be taken, at one or successive draughts; the water being lukewarm, and as nearly as possible of the temperature of the stomach. it operates partly by distension, and partly no doubt by a direct sedative influence; which seems to have a similar effect, with irritation of the stomach, upon the nervous centres, in producing nausea, though in a much less degree. When there is a disposition to vomit, without the ability to do so, or frequent but ineffectual retching, a large draught of warm water will often enable the stomach fully to discharge its contents, and afford great relief. Occasionally, however, when the irritation has been caused by the presence of acrid matter, the warm water, instead of vomiting, quiets the stomach, probably by diluting the offending cause, and facilitating its discharge through the pylorus. it has been stated already that, when it is desired to render the operation of emetics easy to the patient, warm drinks should be administered. These afford something for the stomach to operate upon, and obviate the violent efforts at contraction, necessary to enable it to close over a small quantity of material. Warm water is also an excellent auxiliary to active emetics, in cases of narcotic poisoning, as it brings a new influence into play; that, namely, of distension. For this purpose, it should be given very largely, pint after pint, as long as the patient can be induced to swallow it, or until the stomach has been thoroughly washed out.

Chamomile tea, taken warm, is more efficient than warm water; as the flowers themselves have some degree of emetic power. it is used in the same manner and for the same purposes as warm water. The officinal infusion may be employed (see vol. i. p. 295) in the quantity of from six or eight fluidounces to a pint.

Tickling the fauces sometimes provokes vomiting, through an influence on the nervous centres, bringing the same muscles, to a considerable extent, into play, as in the case of ordinary vomiting. it is resorted to only when it is desirable to produce a very speedy emetic effect, or in cases of great insensibility of stomach, resisting the action of ordinary emetics. The process may be performed by means of a feather.

The emetics may be conveniently divided into those of vegetable, and those of mineral origin.