saline cathartic [L, sal, salt; Gk, katharsis, cleansing] , one of a large group of cathartics administered to achieve prompt, complete evacuation of the bowel. A watery semifluid evacuation usually occurs within 3 to 4 hours. The most common indication for the administration of any of these agents is preparation of the bowel for diagnostic examination. Various preparations, including magnesium sulfate, sodium phosphate, sodium sulfate, and several naturally occurring mineral waters, may be used to achieve catharsis. The palatability of, cost of, and adverse systemic reactions to the saline cathartics depend on the particular agent used and the dose of the agent given.
