ANTITHESIS, in rhetoric, a contrast or opposition of words or sentiments. Such is that of Cicero, in the second Catilinarian: "On one side stands mo-
N. 2. desty,
In this table the proportions are marked in integral numbers: only to some there is added the sign +, to show, that those salts are possessed of a stronger antiseptic virtue than the number in the table expresses, by some fractions; unless in the three last, where the same sign imports, that the salt may be stronger by some units.
Some resinous and other substances even exceed the antiseptic virtues of the neutral salts; thus myrrh, asafetida, terra japonica, and aloes, are at least twelve times more antiseptic than sea-salt. Two grains of camphor is equivalent to sixty grains of that salt. An infusion of a few grains of Virginian snake-root, in powder, exceeds twelve times its weight of sea-salt. Camomile flowers have nearly the same extraordinary quality. The Jesuits bark has it also. Besides these, pepper, ginger, saffron, contrayerva-root, are twelve times more antiseptic than sea-salt. Dried sage, rhubarb, the root of the wild valerian, mint, angelica, ground ivy, fenna, green tea, red roses, wormwood, mustard, and horfe-radish, were likewise found more antiseptic than the standard.
To the class of antiseptic medicines may likewise be added fermented liquors, acids, spirits, and even those plants called anti-acids, and erroneously supposed hasteners of putrefaction, particularly horfe-radish. Now vegetables, possessing this virtue, are the more valuable, in that being usually free of acrimony, they may be taken in much greater quantities than either spirits, acids, resins, or even the neutral salts.
Antiseptics are prescribed in all putrid, malignant, and pestilential cases. It is to be remarked, however, that different kinds of them are to be given in different diseases, and even in different stages of the same disease. Thus, the bark is a specific in a gangrene, when the vessels are relaxed, and the blood resolved or disposed to putrefaction; but will fail, if the vessels are too full, or the blood be too thick. With the same caution is the bark to be used in wounds, viz. chiefly in cases of absorbed matter, when it infects the humours, and brings on a hectic fever.
By the great antiseptic virtue of alum, the bark, and other astringents, it should seem, that attrition had no small share in the cure of putrid disorders; and, indeed, the very nature of putrefaction consists in a separation or disunion of the parts. But as astringents are improper to be administered in many cases, contrayerva-root, snake-root, camphor, &c. may supply their place; which, though highly antiseptic, have very little, or any, of an astringent quality.