Antimonial

Antimonials, in pre-modern medicine, were remedies principally containing antimony, used chiefly for emetic purposes. They might also have qualified for cathartic, diaphoretic, or simply alternative uses. Such treatments were considered unparalleled in their strength.[1]

Bottle marked P. Antimonial from the Auckland Museum

Metaphorical usage

The following passage illustrates the use of the word antimonial to mean emetic in common (as well as medical) terms:

Bumble shook his head, as he replied, "Obstinate people, Mr. Sowerberry; very obstinate. Proud, too, I'm afraid, sir."
"Proud, eh?" exclaimed Mr. Sowerberry with a sneer. "Come, that's too much."
"Oh, it's sickening," replied the beadle. "Antimonial, Mr. Sowerberry!"

— Charles Dickens, Oliver Twist

See also


  •  This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Chambers, Ephraim, ed. (1728). "Antimonial". Cyclopædia, or an Universal Dictionary of Arts and Sciences (1st ed.). James and John Knapton, et al.
  • Antimonials.

See also

References
  1. Frézard, Frédéric; Demicheli, Cynthia; Ribeiro, Raul R. (2009). "Pentavalent Antimonials: New Perspectives for Old Drugs". Molecules. 14 (7): 2317–36. doi:10.3390/molecules14072317. PMC 6254722. PMID 19633606.


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