INDIAN TOBACCO.

387

the rectum, it produces the same distressing sickness ofstomach, profuse Perspi-ration, and universal relaxation, which result from a similar use of tobacco.

yy. In exccssive doses, or in füll doses too frequently repeated, its effects arethose of a powerful acro-narcotic paison. " The melancholy coasequences re-sulting from the use of Lohelia inflata," says Dr. Thacher, (op. cit.) " as latelyadministered by the adventurous hands of a noted empiric, have justly excitedconsiderable interest, and furnished alarming examples of its deleterious proper-ties and fatal effects. The dose in which he is said usually to prescribe it, andfrequently with impunity, is a common teaspoonful of the povvdered seeds orleaves, and often repeated. If the medicine does not puke or evacuate power-fully, it frequently destroys the patient, and sometimes in five or six hours."Its effects, aecording to Dr. Wood, ( United States Dispensatory ,) are, " extremeprostration, great anxiety and distress, and ultimately death, preceded by con-vulsions." He also teils us that fatal results (in America) have been experiencedfrom its empirical use. These are the more apt to oeeur when the poison, as issometimes the case, is not rejeeted by vomiting.

Uses ___Lobelia is probably applicable to all the purposes for which tobacco

has been used (see p. 319). From my own Observation of its effects, its princi-pal value is as an antispasmodic.

1. In aslhma (especially the spasmadic kind) and other disorders qfi/te organsof respiration. —Given in füll doses, so as to excite nausea and vomiting, at thecommencement of, or shortly before, an attack of spasmodic-asthmo,, it sometimessueeeeds in cutting short the paroxysm, or in greatly mitigating its violence; atother times, however, it completely fails. Occasionally it has proved service-able in a few attacks, and, by repetition, has lost its influenae over the disease.

To obtain the beneficial influence in asthma, it is not necessary, however, togive it in doses suflicient to excite vomiting. Dr. Elliotson (Lancet, April 15,1837, p. 144,) recommends the use of small doses at the commencement, andsays that these should be gradually increased, if neither headache nor vomitingoeeur ; but immediately when these Symptoms come on, the use of the remedy isto be omitted. Given in this way, I can testify to its good effects in spasmodicasthma. It has also been used in croup, hooping-cough, and catarrhal asthma,but with no very encouraging effects.

2. In strangulated liernia, Dr. Eberle (Treat. ofthe Mat. Med. vol. i. p. 48,2d ed.) employed it effectually, instead of tobacco, in the form of enema.

3. As an emetie, it has been employed by Dr. Eberle (op. cit.) in croup; butits Operation is too distressing and dangerous for ordinary use.

Administration. —It may be given in powder, infusion, or tineture (alco-holic or ethereal.) Dr. Reece employed an oxymel. The dose of the powderas an emetie, is from grs. x. to 9j. ; as an expectorant, from gr. j. to grs. v. Itdeserves especial notice that the effects of lobelia are very unequal on differentpersons, and that some are excecdingly susceptible of its influence. (Elliotson,Lancet, June 1832 ; and April 15, 1837.)

1, TINCTÜRA LOBELLE, E. (ü. S.); Tineture of Lobelia.— (Lobelia, dried, andin rnoderately fine powder, |v.; Proof Spirit, Oij. This tineture is best preparedby the process of percolation, as directed for the tineture of capsicum ; but itmay also be made in the usual way by digestion.)—[The U. S. P. directs Lobelia,four ounces ; Diluted Alcohol, tvvo pints. Macerate for fourteen days and filter,or proeeed by displacement.]—Dose, as an emetie and antispasmodic, from f3i.to f'3ij. repeated every two or threo hours untd vomiting oeeur; as an expecto-rant, vi\x. to f3j. For children of one or two years old, the dose is H]x. toflixx.

2. TINCTURA LOBELLI JETHEßEA, E.; Ethereal Tineture of Lobelia.— (Lobelia,dried, and in rnoderately fine powder, | v .; Spirit of Sulphuric Ether, Oij. Thistineture is best prepared by percolation, as directed for tineture of capsicum ;but it may be also obtained by digestion in a well-closed vessel for seven days.)This may be used in the same doses as the alcoholic tinclure.