from a privative, and ἀδορῶ, doleo; or a neg. and ἀδορῶ, pain), a term applied to medicines which cause pain, and procure sleep. They are divided into three sorts, viz. 1. Paregorics, or such as assuage pain. 2. Hypnotics, or such as relieve by procuring sleep. 3. Narcotics, or such as ease the patient by stupifying him.

Opiates and narcotics destroy sensation. Some hypnotics and paregorics, as nitre, camphor, &c. procure ease and sleep by removing the offending cause. Camphor is said to be the best anodyne in nervous cases and at the decline of fevers. The doses of these medicines are generally regulated by the pulse.