The New International Encyclopædia/Oxytocics

OX′YTO′CICS (from Gk. ὀξυτόκιον, oxytokion, medicine to facilitate quick delivery, from ὀξύς, oxys, sharp, quick, acid + τόκος, tokos, birth). Remedies which increase uterine contractions. The chief drugs of this class are ergot (q.v.) and quinine (q.v.). Ergot is the most widely known and used oxytocic, and was formerly employed to hasten labor, but it is now known that this practice is extremely dangerous, as it causes a tetanic instead of an intermittent contraction of the wall of the uterus and may lead to its rupture, an accident often fatal. It should never be given until the uterus has been emptied. In this way it is frequently given after labor, to cause contraction of the uterus and so prevent hemorrhage.