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Substances which directly diminish the force of the circulation, and reduce the heat of the body, without occasioning any diminution of sensibility or nervous energy.

These remedies may be considered either as external and local, or as internal and general. In the first case, there will not be much difficulty in substantiating their claims to be considered Chemical Agents, but in the latter case, the theory of their operation is unsatisfactory and obscure; and even the facts which are adduced to establish the existence of such a class of remedies, are of a very problematical character.

Topical Refrigerants. In the case of external inflammation, refrigeration may be produced by the application of cold substances, such as water, ice, or certain saline solutions, or by the abstraction of heat by means of evaporation, which is very effectually accomplished by the use of lotions composed of spirit or ether. By these methods we are capable of directly diminishing the activity of the vessels of the part; thus, in burns and scalds, the pain is instantly relieved, and the inflammation effectually reduced.