Emily Dickinson Lexicon

PHYS'IC, n. [s as z. Gr. φυσικη, from φυσις, nature; φυω, to produce.]

1. The art of healing diseases. This is now generally called medicine. Encyc.
2. Medicines; remedies for diseases. We desire physic only for the sake of health. Hooker.
3. In popular language, a medicine that purges; a purge; a cathartic. [In technical and elegant language this sense is not used.]