Emily Dickinson Lexicon

MA-TE'RI-A-MED'I-CA, n. [MA-TE'RI-A MED'I-CA.]

1. These terms include all articles employed in curing diseases. Materia Medica, a general name for every substance used in medicine. Encyc.
2. An auxiliary branch of the science of medicine, which treats of the nature and properties of all the substances that are employed for the cure of diseases. Ed. Encyc.