Use and Abuse of Cathartics

Abstract

Much of the confusion regarding these drugs surrounds the use of a number of different terms for what are essentially the same type of drug. The terms laxative (Latin laxare, to loosen) and aperient (Latin aperire, to open) describe their action with reasonable accuracy (Jones and Godding 1972). However, cathartic (Greek katharsis, cleansing) and purgative (Latin purgare, to purify) have more emotive overtones and more accurately reflect Victorian concepts of the necessity for regular ingestion to ensure “inner cleanliness” (Anonymous 1962) and maintain good health, the dire consequences of “intestinal autointoxication” resulting if ingestion ceased and constipation occurred (Alvarez 1924; Donaldson 1922). Indeed, a prelude to modern chemical warfare was the embargo placed on the export of cathartics from Britain to Europe during the Napoleonic Wars (S. Smith, cited in Anonymous 1973 c). The resulting constipation in the French troops, deprived of their regular purge, is thought to have greatly contributed to their ultimate defeat.