from
Bouvier's Law Dictionary, Revised 6th Ed (1856)
EMMENAGOGUES, med. jur. The name of a class of medicines which are believed
to have the power. of favoring the discharge of the menses. These are black
hellebore, savine, (vide Juneperius Sabina,) madder, mercury, polygala,
senega, and pennyroyal. They are sometimes used for the criminal purpose of
producing abortion. (q.v.) They always endanger the life of the woman. 1
Beck's Medical Jur. 316; Dungl. Med. Diet. h.t.; Parr's Med. Dict. h.t.; 3
Paris and Fonbl. Aled. Jur. 88.