alterative vs prophylactic

alterative

noun
  • A medicine or treatment which works by changing processes within the body, rather than by evacuating something etc. 

adj
  • Gradually changing, or tending to change, a morbid state into a healthy one. 

  • Causing alteration. 

prophylactic

noun
  • A medicine which preserves or defends against disease; a preventive. 

  • Any device or mechanism intended to prevent harmful consequences. 

  • A prophylactic condom. 

adj
  • Serving to prevent or protect against an undesired effect, especially disease or pregnancy 

How often have the words alterative and prophylactic occurred in a corpus of books? (source: Google Ngram Viewer )