epispastic, a. and n. Med.
(ɛpɪˈspæstɪk)
[ad. mod.L. epispasticus, a. Gr. ἐπισπαστικός, f. ἐπισπάειν, f. ἐπί towards + σπάειν to draw.]
A. adj. Drawing out humours; blistering.
| 1657 Phys. Dict., Epispastick, blistering plaisters, or any other strong drawing plaister. 1861 Hulme tr. Moquin-Tandon ii. iii. iii. 133 Vinegar of Cantharides (Epispastic). |
B. n. A blister; a substance used for blisters.
| 1675 Grew Anat. Plants (1682) 286 A Blister..the common Effect of Fire, or any strong Epispastick. 1748 Richardson Clarissa (1811) VIII. 253 Thy Epispastics may strip the parchment from thy plotting head. 1830 Lindley Nat. Syst. Bot. 7 Ranunculus flammula and sceleratus are powerful epispastics. 1876 Bartholow Mat. Med. (1879) 536 An epispastic is a remedy which excites inflammation and vesication. |