Calm & Collected Tincture

King's American Dispensatory By Harvey Wickes Felter and John Uri Lloyd 1898 - Lemon Balm

Botanical name: Melissa officinalisNepeta catariaAgastache mexicanaAgastache pallidaNepeta cataria 'Citriodora'Pogostemon cablin "The leaves and tops of Melissa officinalis, Linné"—(U. S. P.). Nat. Ord.—Labiatae. COMMON NAMES: Balm, Lemon balm. Botanical Source.—Balm is a perennial herb, with upright, branching, 4-sided stems, 10 to 20 inches high. The leaves are opposite, broadly ovate, acute, coarsely crenate-serrate, rugose, petioled, and more or less hairy. The flowers are pale-yellow, in axillary dimidiate verticils, and subsessile; the bracts are few, ovate-lanceolate, and petiolate. The calyx is slightly gibbous at base, 13-ribbed, flattish above, upper lip 3-toothed, lower one bifid. Corolla with a recurved ascending tube; upper lip erect, flattish, lower lip spreading, 3-lobed, middle lobe mostly broadest. Stamens ascending (W.—G.). History and Description.—Balm is a native of southern France, but is naturalized in various parts of Europe and the United States. It grows in fields, along roadsides, and is well-known as a garden plant, flowering from May to August. The whole plant is medicinal, and should be collected previous to its flowering. In the recent state, it has a lemon-like odor, which is nearly lost by drying. Boiling water extracts its virtues. It is officially described as follows: "Leaves about 5 Cm. (2 inches) long, petiolate, ovate, obtuse, rounded or subcordate at the base, crenate, somewhat hairy, glandular; branches quadrangular; flowers in about 4-flowered cymules, with a tubular, bell-shaped, 5-toothed calyx, a whitish or purplish bilabiate corolla, and 4 stamens; fragrant, aromatic; somewhat astringent and bitterish"—(U. S. P.). The Nepeta Cataria, Linné, var. B. citriodora, a powerful emmenagogue, is sometimes cultivated and employed by mistake for balm. It has the same odor, but may be distinguished by both surfaces of its leaves being hairy. Chemical Composition.—Balm contains a bitter substance, some tannin., gum, and a peculiar volatile oil, which is yellowish, or reddish-yellow, very limpid, about 0.89 in density, and possessing the fragrance of the plant in a very high degree. A stearopten is present in it (Bizio); the oil is soluble in 5 parts of alcohol. The yield in oil does not exceed 0.1 per cent. The infusion of balm is incompatible with nitrate of silver, acetate of lead, and sulphate of iron. Action, Medical Uses, and Dosage.—Balm is moderately stimulant, diaphoretic, and antispasmodic. A warm infusion, drank freely, has been serviceable as a diaphoretic in febrile diseases and painful menstruation, and to assist the operation of other diaphoretic medicines; in combination with ipecacuanha, and potassium nitrate, a valuable diaphoretic is formed. It is also occasionally used to assist menstruation. When given in fevers, it may be rendered more agreeable by the addition of lemon juice. The infusion may be taken ad libitum.

King's American Dispensatory By Harvey Wickes Felter and John Uri Lloyd 1898 - St John’s Wort

Botanical Source.—This plant has a perennial, woody, tufted, fusiform, tortuous, somewhat creeping root. Its stem is 2-edged, branchiate, erect above, curved below, branched, and from 1 to 2 feet high. The leaves are very numerous, elliptical or ovate, obtuse, opposite, entire, marked with pellucid dots, of a pale-green color, from 6 to 10 lines long, one-third as wide, the ramial leaves being much smaller. The flowers are numerous, of a bright-yellow color, and borne in dense, forked, terminal panicles. The calyx is persistent; and the sepals are 5, acute, lanceolate, connected at the base, with 6 dark-colored glands. Petals 5, twice as long as the sepals, ovate, obtuse, yellow, dotted, and streaked with black or dark purple. Stamens numerous, united at base, divided into 3 sets with small anthers. Styles 3 short, erect; stigmas small. The capsule is roundish, 3-celled and 3-valved; the seeds numerous, small, and roundish. The whole herb is dark-green, with a powerful scent when rubbed, and stain the fingers dark-purple, from the great abundance of colored essential oil (L.—W.). History and Chemical Composition.—St. John's wort is an herb abundantly growing in this country and Europe, and proving exceedingly annoying to farmers. The flowers appear from June to August. It has a peculiar, terebinthine odor, and a balsamic, bitterish, rather astringent taste. It imparts its properties to water, alcohol, ether, oils, or alkaline solutions. Other species of Hypericum are possessed of medicinal properties, notably the Hypericum sarothra, Michaux, pine-weed or orange-grass, growing in sands, which has aperient qualities. An allied plant, the Ascyrum crux-Andreae, Linné, or St. Andrew's cross, has been locally applied to glandular indurations and swellings. Hypericum contains a volatile oil, a resin, tannic acid and coloring matter (Blair, Amer. Jour. Pharm., Vol. II, p. 23). Pectin is also present. The red coloring principle is a resinous body known as hypericum red. The odor of this principle is similar to that of the flowers. Karl Dieterich (Pharm. Centralh., 1891, p. 683) macerated the flowers with 90 per cent alcohol, and obtained a tincture of a rich red color, containing a mixture of two coloring matters, a yellow principle soluble in petroleum ether, and a red coloring matter, insoluble in this solvent. The red principle, in solid form, was a resinous mass of a green lustre, soluble in alcohol with red color, and resembling carthamin red; insoluble in fatty, but soluble in ethereal oils. Acids dissolve it with red, alkalies, chloroform, benzol and carbon disulphide with green color. The substance does not possess any advantage over other indicators in alkalimetry. When exposed to air in thin layers, it turns greenish at once. The aqueous extractive matter of the flowers contains calcium, magnesium, potassium, and oxalic, sulphuric and carbonic acids. Action, Medical Uses, and Dosage.—Astringent, sedative, and diuretic. Used in suppression of the urine, chronic urinary affections, in diarrhoea, dysentery, worms, jaundice, menorrhagia, hysteria, nervous affections with depression, hemoptysis, and other hemorrhages. Hypericum has undoubted power over the nervous system, and particularly the spinal cord. Homoeopathic physicians regard it as the arnica of that structure. It is used in injuries of the spine and in lacerated and punctured wounds of the limbs to prevent tetanic complications and to relieve the excruciating pains of such injuries (Scudder). It is highly valued by Webster in spinal irritation when, upon gentle pressure upon the spinous processes of the vertebrae, burning pain is elicited. Throbbing of the whole body in nervous individuals, fever being absent, is said to be a good indication for hypericum. The usual method of administration is: Rx Tincture of hypericum, gtt. x to xxx; aqua, fl℥iv. Mix. Sig. Teaspoonful every 1 or 2 hours. Externally, hypericum may be used in fomentation, or used as an ointment for dispelling hard tumors, caked breasts, bruises, ecchymosis, swellings, ulcers, etc. The blossoms, infused in sweet oil or bear's oil, by means of exposure to the sun, make a fine, red balsamic ointment for wounds, ulcers, swellings, tumors, etc. A very excellent ointment for tumors, ecchymosed conditions, etc., may be made by adding to 1 pound of lard, ½ pound of the recent tops and flowers of St. John's wort, and ½ pound of fresh stramonium leaves; bruise all together, expose to a gentle heat for an hour, and strain. Dose of the powder, from ½ to 2 drachms; of the infusion, from 1 to 2 fluid ounces. The dose of the strong tincture is from ½ to 10 minims. Ɣ The saturated tincture of the fresh herb (℥viii to alcohol, 76 per cent, Oj) is nearly as valuable as that of arnica for bruises, etc., and may be substituted for it in many instances. Specific Indications and Uses.—Spinal injuries, shocks, or concussions; throbbing of the whole body without fever; spinal irritation, eliciting tenderness and burning pain upon slight pressure; spinal injuries, and lacerated and punctured wounds of the extremities, with excruciating pain; hysteria; locally to wounds, contusions, etc.

The Dispensatory of the United States of America, 1918, Edited by Joseph P. Remington, Horatio C. Wood and others. - Valerian

"The dried rhizome and roots of Valeriana officinalis Linné (Fam. Valerianaceae)." U. S. "Valerian Rhizome is the dried rhizome and roots of Valeriana officinalis, Linn. Collected in the autumn." Br. Valerianae Rhizoma, Br.; Valerian Root; Radix Valerianae Minoris, R. Valerianae Sylvestris, R. Valerianae Montanae; Common, Garden, Cat's or Great Wild Valerian, All-heal, Summer Heliotrope, Herb Bennet, Vandal Root; Valeriane officinale, Fr. Cod.; Racine de Valeriane, Valeriane, Fr.; Radix Valerianae, P. G.; Baldrian, Wilde Baldrianwurzel, Baldrianwurzel, G.; Valeriana, It.; Valeriana (Rizoma de), Sp. Official or great wild valerian (Valeriana officinalis) is a large, handsome, herbaceous plant, with a perennial rhizome, and an erect, round, channelled stem, from two to four feet high, furnished with opposite pinnate leaves, and terminating in flowering branches. The leaves of the stems are attached by abort, broad sheaths; the radical leaves are larger and long petiolate. In the former the leaflets are lanceolate and partially dentate, in the latter elliptical and deeply serrate. The flowers are small, white or rose-colored, agreeably odorous, and disposed in terminal corymbs interspersed with pear-shaped bracts. The number of the stamens is three. The fruit is a capsule containing one oblong-ovate, compressed seed. The plant is a native of Europe, where it grows either in damp woods and meadows or on dry elevated grounds. As found in these different situations, it presents characters so distinct as to have induced some botanists to make two varieties. Dufresne makes four, of which three prefer marshy situations. The variety which affects a dry soil (sylvestris L. Ph.) is not more than two feet high, and is distinguished by its narrow leaves. The valerian plant is cultivated to some extent in New England and New York, and in Europe, in England and Holland. In this country it will grow in light, well-prepared, and well-drained soil, and is propagated by dividing the roots in the fall and setting these portions acids mentioned, forming corresponding esters with them: (4) at from 285° to 290° C. (545°-554° F.), a greenish, syrupy oil, which when rectified is colorless, and seems to have the composition of a borneol oxide, (C10H17)2O. Schimmel & Co. (Schim. Rep., April, 1897) summarize the most recent researches upon valerian oil from different sources. In the oil from Dutch and Thuringian roots, the amount varying from 0.5 to 1 per cent., they find pinene, camphene, borneol, bornyl formate, bornyl acetate, and bornyl isovalerate, together with a sesquiterpene and an alcohol, C10H20O2. In the oil from Japanese roots (amounting to from 6 to 6.5 per cent.) (Kesso oil), they find pinene, camphene, dipentene, terpineol, borneol, bornyl acetate, bornyl isovalerate, and kessyl acetate. Trommsdorff ascertained the existence in the oil of valeric acid. This acid is a colorless volatile liquid, of an oleaginous consistence, having an odor analogous to that of valerian, and a very strong, sour, disagreeable taste. It is soluble in thirty parts of water, and in all proportions in ether and alcohol. It combines with salifiable bases, forming soluble salts, which retain, in a diminished degree, the odor of the acid. (J. P. C., xx, 316.) The acid does not pre-exist in the oil, but is produced by the decomposition of its borneol ester. Valeric acid is obtained by distilling the impure oil with magnesium carbonate, decomposing by sulphuric acid the magnesium valerate which remains, and again distilling. The following process by T. and H. Smith, of Edinburgh, avoids the inconvenience of distilling so bulky a root as valerian, while it answers the same purpose as that of Rabourdin. Boil the root for three or four hours with rather more than its bulk of water in which an ounce of sodium carbonate is dissolved for every pound of the root, replacing the water as it evaporates. Express strongly, and boil the residuum twice with the same quantity of water, expressing each time as before. Mix the liquids, add two fluidrachms of strong sulphuric acid for every pound of the root, and distil until three-fourths of the liquid have passed over. Neutralize this with sodium carbonate, concentrate the liquid, decompose the sodium valerate contained in it by sulphuric acid, and collect the valeric acid set free, by a separator, funnel, or by distillation. (A. J. P., xvii, 253.) Lefort obtains the acid by the rapid oxidation of the volatile oil. He distilled 100 parts of the root with 500 of water, 10 of sulphuric acid, and 6 of potassium dichromate, and in this way procured a larger proportion of acid than by any other process. (J. P. C., 3e ser., x, 194.) Uses.—Valerian is used as a sedative to the higher nerve centers in conditions of nervous unrest, hysteria, hypochondriasis, neuralgic pains, and the like. The virtues of the plant seem to depend chiefly on the esters of valeryl which are contained in the volatile oil. According to Chevalier (Nouv. Rem., 1912, xxix, p. 169), the volatile oil of valerian is a depressant to the whole central nervous system, including both the motor and psychical centers of the brain and the motor cells of the spinal cord. The esters contained in this drug are unstable bodies and in the process of drying largely oxidized with the formation of valeric acid. As the latter is practically without physiological action much of the virtue of the plant is lost during the drying process. Probably for this reason preparations of this drug are very uncertain in their activity and valerian has largely fallen into disrepute. Chevalier has introduced the .juice of the fresh root which he asserts is a valuable remedy not only for the conditions mentioned above, but even as a narcotic in insomnia and an anticonvulsant in epilepsy. The dose of this juice, which has been introduced under the name of energetene of valerian, is one to three coffeespoonsful. It appears also to have some slight influence upon the circulation, slowing the heart and increasing its force, and causing a rise in blood pressure, and has been used in the treatment of cardiac palpitations.

King's American Dispensatory By Harvey Wickes Felter and John Uri Lloyd 1898 - Lobelia

Botanical Source.—This plant, generally known as Wild, or Indian tobacco, is an annual or biennial indigenous plant, nore commonly the latter, with a fibrous, very hairy yellowish-white stem, in theroot,full-sized and an plant erect, angular, much Fig. 163. branched, and from 6 inches to 3 feet in height. The sº §§ late, leavesserrate, are alternate, veiny, andscattered, hairy. sessile, The flowers ovate-lanceo- are Nf, §2 % WWºº small, numerous, pale-blue, on short peduncles, each & \ N. originating from the axil of a small leaf. The calyx º § º consists of 5, subulate segments. The corolla is tubu- º lar, small, slit on the upper side, ventricose at the base; the limb bilabiate; tube prismatic ; segments spreading, acute ; two upper ones lanceolate, three lower ones Oval. The anthers are united into an ob long, curved body, and of a purple color; filaments white. Style filiform ; stigma curved, 2-lobed, in closed by the anthers. The capsule is 2-celled, ovoid, inflated, striated, 10-angled, crowned with the persistent calyx. The seeds are numerous, small, oblong, and brown (L.-B.—W.). History.—Lobelia is very plentiful throughout the United States, and is usually along roadsides, found thriving in dry soil - in dry fields, and old LObella inflata. pastures, as well as in woodland grazing grounds. It flowers from July to September, or until frost checks its blooming. It grows from a few inches to 2 feet in height, and is peculiar in that it will blossom when the flowering time arrives, even iſ it be but an inch in height. The plant has alternate leaves, and flowers of a light blue color, inconspicuous, yet very pretty when closely examined, having the characteristic split corolla tube (along the upper side) seedlºelia of the Lobelias. The fruit is an inflated pod, resembling a small 8. balloon, easily compressible, and contains an innumerable number of minute brown seeds. The plant, when broken or cut, exudes an acrid, milky juice, imparting a taste very much resembling that of tobacco. The whole plant is active, but the leaves and seeds are more usually employed. The root is sup posed to be more emergetic, medicinally, than any other part of the plant. The Fig. 164. 1200 - LOBELIA. proper time for gathering the plant is from the last of July to the middle of October, during which period the seed-vessels are in great abundance. The plant should be dried in the shade, and then be preserved in packages, or covered ves sels, more especially if it be reduced to powder. When dried, it has a faint, nau seous, rather disagreeable odor, and a strong, acrid, nauseous taste developed by chewing, somewhat similar to that of tobacco, which powerfully affects the throat and fauces, occasioning ptyalism and sickness at stomach. The leaves form a greenish powder; the seeds a brownish. Hot water, vinegar, ether, or alcohol take up its medicinal principles, but boiling dissipates them. Few drugs are more favored among Eclectic physicians than lobelia, and cer tainly none others have so interesting a history. This plant is vulgarly known as Indian tobacco, though why it should have this name is difficult to say, as there is no distinct record as is the case with other plants (unless we accept the statements made that it was known to the Penobscot tribes), that it was ever employed as a medicine by the natives. As the plant resembles somewhat in taste the common tobacco (Nicotiama Tabacum), and was for this reason called Wild tobacco, the authors of “Drugs and Medicines of North America” advance the opinion that if known as Wild tobacco it was but a step farther to call it Indian tobacco, on the presumption that a tobacco that was wild would be used by the Indians. The earliest botanists did not use a common name for lobelia, and it was not until 1810 that we find the first popular name—Bladder-pod—given it by Aiton. Following this came Inflated lobelia and Bladder-pod lobelia for obvious reasons. So much for names suggested by the plant itself. When it came to be used in medicine a new set of popular names, having reference to its properties, were applied. Thomson and Cutler called it Emetic weed and Emetic herb. These names suggested those to follow—Puke weed, Vomit weed, and Gag root. Although the term gag root was employed, the root was never used in medicine, statements to the contrary notwithstanding. One of its very old names is Eye-bright—a name properly belonging to Euphrasia officinalis, and, from its use as an anti-asthmatic, some writers have referred to it as Asthma weed. Its generic name—lobelia—was given it in honor of Matthias de Lobel (de l'Obel), a distinguished botanist of the sixteenth century; its specific name—inflata—on account of its inflated seed pods. Though lobelia grows nearly all over this country, much of the drug supply of commerce comes from the mountainous districts of North Carolina. Dobelia was known to the Penobscot Indians, and was also extensively used by the people in New England in domestic practice, long before the time of Samuel Thomson, its assumed discoverer. Though used by a few in domestic practice, the credit for the introduction of lobelia into medical practice is due to Drs. Manasseh Cutler and Samuel Thomson. The latter claims to have been the first to employ it and, indeed, it would seem probable that Cutler learned the use of it from Thomson. As before stated, few drugs have been so notoriously historical as the one under consideration. It became widely known to the people during the early part of the present century, through the famous trials of Drs. Thomson and Frost. ... The name of lobelia became so odious, that to be known as a “lobelia doctor” was sufficient to subject the physician to all manner of ridicule. The prosecution of Thomson was brought at the instigation of a jealous physician–Dr. French— backed by a jealous profession. While under treatment by Dr. Thomson, one Ezra Lovett, of Beverly, Mass., died after a tedious course of medicine applied after the peculiar method of Thomson. The prosecutors charged the latter with killing Lovett with lobelia. Thomson denied it, claiming the drug employed to be marsh rosemary. The prosecutors showed their ignorance by exhibiting to to the court some of the powder alleged to have been employed, which powder actually proved to be marsh rosemary. Judge Parsons instructed the jury to acquit Thomson. The memory of lobelia was again revived, in 1837, by the trial of Dr. R. K. Frost, of New York City, for the alleged killing of T. G. French. The charge against Frost was that he put French into a “vapor bath” and “adminis tered to him poisonous decoctions of lobelia, and giving deleterious herbs which no reasonable man would administer to a dog.” He was tried for manslaughter, the trial lasting ten days, and the jury found him guilty (in the fourth degree), but recommended him to the mercy of the court. The court sentenced him to three months' imprisonment. LOBELIA. 1201. The first published account of the use of lobelia in regular medicine, is by the Rev. Manasseh Cutler, LL.D., in his “Account of Indigenous Vegetables” (1785), stating that the leaves, if chewed, “produce a giddiness and pain in the head, with a trembling agitation of the whole body.” Cutler was a great sufferer from asthma and found this drug to give him more relief than any other, and as Thomson had been in the habit of using lobelia for this complaint, and prac ticing so mear to the home of Cutler, in Massachusetts, it is fair to presume that the latter derived his knowledge of the drug from Thomson. As early as 1820, the first edition of the U. S. P. recognized lobelia and it has continued official until the present time. Description.—The U. S. P. officially describes lobelia as follows: “Leaves alternate, petiolate, the upper ones sessile, ovate or oblong, about 5 Cm. (2 inches) long, irregularly toothed, pubescent, pale-green; branches hairy, terminating in long racemes of small, pale-blue flowers, having an adherent, 5-toothed calyx, which is inflated in fruit, a bilabiate corolla, and 5 united stamens; Odor slight, irritating; taste mild, afterward burning and acrid"—(U. S. P.). LOBELIA SEED.—Lobelia seeds are not official, excepting as included in the inflated pods of the plant. Lobelia seeds, viewed under the microscope, are about # of an inch in length, gºs of an inch in breadth, of a dark-brown color, oblong, with ridges and furrows, somewhat resembling basket-work; the only seeds which resemble them are those of the L. cardinalis, which are not so dark-colored, but are oval, or almond-shaped, reticulated with irregular, oblong-square, or rectan gular reticulations not so well defined, and are of larger size (P-F. Curtis). Lobelia in the powdered form enters into the composition of the compound emetic powder, and is a constituent of the compound tincture of lobelia and capsicum (King's Antispasmodic), and the acetous emetic tincture. The oil, as before stated, is contained in the stillingia limiment. Specific lobelia, the pre ferred preparation of this plant, has a deep wine color and a peculiar fatty odor. When dropped into water it produces a white turbidity, forming a yellowish white, milky liquid, when viewed by reflected light. It mixes with alcohol without change. The taste is peppery and persistent, leaving a disagreeable acrid impression in the throat and fauces. A few drops only will sicken some persons and even produce emesis. Specific lobelia contains a large amount of oil of lobelia, which preserves the alkaloid in the preparation. Investigations made by Prof. Lloyd demonstrated that solutions devoid of the oil were inferior, being altered by age. Specific lobelia retains its emergies indefinitely. Chemical Composition.—The active principle of lobelia is an acrid, irrita ting, unstable alkaloid, called lobeline, first obtained by Wm. Procter, Jr. (Amer. Jour. Pharm., 1838, p. 98, and 1841, p. 1), as a yellowish liquid of faintly aromatic taste, soluble in water and exhibiting an alka line reaction. It exists in combination with a vegetable acid—lobelic acid—form ing precipitates with solutions of metallic salts (Pereira, 1842). Lobeline and its salts are exceedingly active emetics. Though stable when thus combined, it readily decomposes when freed from contact with the other constituents of the plant. Heat applied to either an aqueous preparation or an alcoholic tincture of lobelia, destroys this alkaloid, hence a decoction or hot infusion of this plant is irrational, Lobeline was obtained by Prof. Lloyd (see D. and M. of N. A., by J. U. and C. G. Lloyd, Vol. II, pp. 75 and 76), by depriving lobelia seeds of fat by means of benzin, abstracting the seeds with alcohol acidulated with acetic acid in a percolator, and evaporating and extracting the alkaloid with ammoniated ether. As thus obtained, lobeline, after further purification, is a colorless, odorless, amorphous, and non-hygroscopic alkaloid, of an alkaline reaction, soluble in alcohol, chloroform, benzol, ether, and carbon bisulphide. It is also somewhat soluble in water and exhibits in solution alkaloidal reactions. No crystallizable salts could be obtained, though Prof. Procter (loc. cit.) alludes to a crystallizable muriate, sulphate, nitrate, and oxalate of lobeline. Paschkis and Smita obtained from lobeline benzoic acid by oxidation with potassium permangamate (Amer. Jour. Pharm., 1890, p. 339). Crystals of Inflatin, typical form. 76 1202 LOBELIA. H. von Rosen (Amer. Jour. Pharm., 1889, p. 393), isolated two alkaloids, one liquid (lobeline) and another solid. According to Prof. Lloyd, the plant also contains a crystallizable, non-basic substance, to which he gave the name inflatin. This body exists in the plant, intimately associated with the alkaloid and some volatile oil (see below). Inflatin is tasteless and odorless, “insoluble in water, or glycerin, but soluble in carbon disulphide, benzol, chloroform, ether, and alcohol, in the order given" (Lloyd, D. and M. of N. A.,Vol. II, p. 78). It is not important in a medical sense. The lobelacrim of Enders (1871), which was obtained in warty tufts of a brown color, was regarded by W. H. D. Leurs (Pharm. Jour. Trams., Vol. VIII, 1878, p. 562), as probably lobeliate of lobeline. Lobelia contains a non-acrid, volatile oil of a pungent odor, possessing but little taste and no acridity. It was named lobeliamin by Pareira in 1840. In addition, the plant contains about 30 per cent of non volatile oily matters. The impure oil (so-called) of lobelia, so extensively em ployed by Eclectic doctors, is simply a syrupy extract of lobelia made with stronger alcohol, preferably acidulated with acetic acid. This so-called oil is the active constituent of that favorite Eclectic preparation, the compound stillingia liniment. The pure or true fived oil of lobelia is non-acrid and bland, but as usually obtained (impure), is acrid and of a green color. The fixed oil of lobelia (impure) may be obtained by bruising the seeds between heated rollers, and press ing while hot in a strong linen cloth, between proper iron plates. Its consistence is nearly like that of linseed oil, and eminently possesses the drying qualities common to many fixed oils. It possesses all the medicinal properties of the seeds. Action, Medical Uses, and Dosage.—Lobelia, in the ordinary sense of the term, is not a poison. Undoubtedly, its injudicious use has, and might produce death, but the same is true of many other drugs that are not ordinarily considered as poisons. That the alkaloid lobeline will kill animals, has been fully demon strated. A drop of the alkaloidal solution placed upon the tongue of a strong, healthy man, instantly vomited him. To this property of its alkaloid, is undoubt edly due the failure of lobelia to act as a toxic agent. Its emetic action is so prompt and decided, that the contained alkaloid could not, under ordinary cir cumstances, produce fatal results. Given in cases in extremis, the resulting exhaus tion from repeated emesis would very likely hasten death, but death would be more likely due to the act of vomiting exhausting the patient, than to any poison ous effect of the medicine. If lobelia be chewed, it gives rise to an acrid, prickling, and persistently pungent sensation in the throat and fauces, accompanied by slight nausea and a feeling of warmth and distension along the esophageal tract and in the stomach. The sensation is not very unlike that produced by tobacco. The salivary and buccal glands are impressed, pouring out saliva and mucus in abundance. A sense of epigastric depression succeeds, followed by profound nausea, and if the amount chewed be large enough, severe and thorough emesis results. The gas tric mucus is secreted in great abundance and ejected with the contents of the stomach. The emetic action of lobelia is extremely depressing, and is usually accompanied by profuse perspiration. Oppressive prostration, relaxation of the muscular system, and a languid pulse accompany the emetic stage. The depres sion, however, is of short duration, and is immediately followed by a sense of extreme Satisfaction and repose. Under its action the mental powers are unusu ally acute, and the muscles are powerfully relaxed. The circulation is enfeebled by large and strengthened by small doses, and the bronchial secretions are aug mented. When the drug does not prove emetic, it is said that it usually purges. Death, when due to lobeline, is said to result from respiratory paralysis. Lobelia is nauseant, emetic, expectorant, relaxant, antispasmodic, diaphoretic, Sialagogue, sedative, and, secondarily, occasionally cathartic and diuretic and astringent. It is in no sense a narcotic. The earliest use of lobelia, as will be seen from its history, was that of an emetic, and for this purpose it is still em ployed when we desire the action of a systemic emetic. Though momentarily depressing, its beneficial after-effects cause it to be preferred above other agents, ipecac not excepted, when such an agent is required. Its action is somewhat modified by combination with ipecacuanha, and other vegetable emetics, and rendered safer and more effectual. Such a combination is the emetic powder. LOBELIA. 1203 It may be used in forming stages of febrile affections, and is especially indicated by a general sluggishness of the whole system with an oppressive feeling, and the tongue is heavily and foully coated at the base. In some chronic diseases its emetic action is salutary in arousing the system from its atomic state. When its emetic action is desired, small doses should be frequently administered until profound nausea is induced, and then the drug should rapidly be pushed to emesis. Copious draughts of warm water will hasten its action and render the act of emesis much easier. Spasmodic movement is incompatible with nervous and muscular relaxation, hence we find prompt relief in many spasmodic con ditions by the use of this drug. The powerfully relaxant properties of lobelia render it a very efficient agent in several conditions, whose chief feature is the spasmodic element. For its control over spasmodic movement, nauseant or emetic doses must be given. For this purpose it may be exhibited in chorea, tetanus, “worm fits” of children, hysteric and infantile convulsions, epileptiform and other convulsive disorders. For puerperal eclamp sia, chloroform by inhalation, and morphine subcutaneously injected, give better results than lobelia, though the latter drug has been used with success in some cases. Lobelia is of value in obstetrical practice. It powerfully subdues muscular rigidity. It is the remedy to overcome a rigid os uteri during parturition, and at the same time it relaxes the perimeal tissues. This it does when there is fullness of tissue—a thick, doughy, yet unyielding, os uteri; when, however, the edge of the os is thin and closely drawn, sharp like a knife edge, full doses of gelsemium are indicated. For its antispasmodic action it may be given by mouth and by rectum. Intestinal obstructions have been overcome by lobelia when other agents would have been inadmissible, hence it is of value in the reduction of Strangulated hermia, an enema being employed. Intussusception and fecal impaction may be treated with this drug when cathartics would result fatally. It is for its antispasmodic effects that it is given in asthmatic paroxysms, spasmodic croup, and whooping-cough. It has been successfully used to overcome the violent convulsions resulting from Strychnine pois0ning. Chloroform and ether excepted, it is the best antispasmodic drug in the materia medica, and much safer than either of these. In the so-called “worm fits” it should be carried to nausea and then followed by Santonin, after which a mild purgative may be given. Lobelia is a stimulant to the sympathetic system. It improves the inner vation of the parts supplied by both the prleumogastric and sympathetic nerves. The appetite and digestion are improved by small doses of the drug. It will fre quently be found indicated in indigestion and dyspepsia. We have frequently used it in small doses for sick headache due to gastric derangement. It is indicated by the feeling of “qualmishness” and nausea present. Though frequently over looked when we are looking for a drug to overcome intestimal atomy, lobelia will be found one of the best drugs at our command for the relief of habitual constipation. B. Specific lobelia, gtt. i-ij, every 2 hours. Administered with podophyllin it tends to prevent the costiveness so frequently the result after using a “bowel persuader” in cathartic doses. It increases peristalsis. Small doses of it relieve infantile colic. Lobelia is the drug for angina pectoris, newſralgia of the heart, and pulmonary apoplexy. Though evanescent in its action, large doses of specific lobelia (about 20 drops), may be administered with the expectation of relieving the patient. The dose may be repeated if necessary. Lobelia is a cardiac stimulant, thus we class it with the sedatives, for all sedatives in medicinal (small) doses are heart stimu lants. When the circulation exhibits a markedly slow pulse-wave it will be better corrected by lobelia than by any other drug we possess. In fact the most promi ment indication for the drug is the full, oppressed, sluggish, doughy pulse. Asso ciate this with praecordial oppression, thoracic pain, difficult breathing, Soreness or bruised feeling within the chest, nausea, with tongue heavily coated at base, fullness of tissue, and we have before us a fair range of the action of lobelia. It is a good remedy in cardiac congestion. Perhaps the most important use for this drug will be in the treatment of respiratory affections. For this class of diseases no remedy is more highly valued by physicians of our school. “Lobelia is an admirable pectoral remedy. As a nauseant expectorant it has no equal. When an emetic is desired in pulmonary 1204 LOBELIA. complaints it is one of the most efficient that can be employed. It has come to be the first of remedies for spasmodic asthma, and is not without utility in whoop ing cough. It improves innervation and the circulation, and is one of the best remedies to employ in congestive conditions. It is frequently indicated in pleu risy and pleuro-pneumonia. As a sedative it ranks between veratrum and aconite. Acute pneumonia, with tendency to congestion, the breathing being oppressed, is quickly relieved by lobelia. All chronic forms of sore throat, especially when ulcera ted, are benefited by it. Chronic pneumonia, bronchitis, and laryngitis are all con ditions in which lobelia will be of great service. In asthenic laryngitis of children it is exceedingly useful. It is a remedy of great value in chronic catarrh, dry, hard, or barking coughs, colds, and all forms of irritation of the respiratory tract, with oppression. It relaxes the tissues, favors expectoration when a large quantity of mucus is secreted and there is want of power to remove it. The indications for this drug are the full, oppressed, or small, feeble pulse, præcordial oppression, with difficult respiration, oppression anywhere in the chest, with accumulation of the bronchial secretions, cough with loud mucous rales within the chest. The “ace tous emetic tincture,” which contains this agent, may be used to fulfil most of the indications for this drug. Powdered lobelia seeds or leaves, or the “com pound powder of lobelia and capsicum,” are the best local applications that can be employed in acute pulmonary complaints, and give great relief in chronic cases with a sense of suffocation and fullness, accompanied by soreness within the chest” (Felter). When in the eruptive diseases retrocession takes place, lobelia, by promoting determination of blood to the skin, will promptly bring the eruption to the sur face. It is also indicated in Scarlatina and measles when the eruption is tardy in making its appearance. Lobelia was formerly used to a considerable extent in the eruptive skin diseases. In the Western Medical Reformer for 1838, we find it lauded as a local wash for “herpes, lichen, eczema, mettlerash, and erysipelas.” There is one condition in which its use should not be overlooked, and that is in poisoning by Rhus Toxicodendrom. An aqueous solution of specific lonelia, or an infusion of the plant should be freely used by wetting the cloths in the lotion and applying frequently to the affected parts. Externally, the infusion has been found useful in ophthalmic affec tions; and the tincture is a valuable local application to sprains, bruises, rheumatic pains, erysipelas, and erysipelatows inflammations, tetter, and other forms of cutaneous diseases. A poultice of powdered lobelia and slippery-elm bark, with a weak lye water, will be found valuable in erysipelatous diseases, bites, and stings of poisomous insects, spasmodic affections of the limbs, pains, and to produce muscular relaxation. Tincture of lobelia, painted upon the parts before suppuration has begun, is said to abort felons. The oil of lobelia is valuable in tetanus and some other extreme cases, as it is easy to introduce enough upon the tongue to relax the whole system immediately. On account of the tendency to produce inflammation of the stomach, it should not be employed alone as a common emetic, but a few drops of it should be triturated with sugar, and diffused in chamomile, boneset, or other emetic infusion. One drop of the oil, triturated with 20 grains of sugar, and divided into from 6 to 12 doses will be found highly useful as an expectorant, nauseant, sedative, and diapho retic, when given every 1 or 2 hours, as may be required. As a local application, much benefit may be derived from it, where a particular nerve is to be quieted, or a muscle to be relaxed. An excellent liniment may be made of a mixture of ounce, each, of oils of amber and sassafras, 1 drachm of oil of lobelia, and drachm of ethereal oil of capsicum. To be used in painful meuralgic and rheu matic affections. That lobelia is a valuable remedy will be conceded by all, and that it has been notoriously misrepresented is apparent to all. Carefully used according to its specific indications, it will be better appreciated the more it is used. As an emetic, dose of the powder, from 20 to 60 grains; of the tincture, from 2 to 4 fluid drachms; as a nauseant and expectorant, from 5 to 20 grains. The dose of specific lobelia ranges from 1 to 40 drops, according to use, taken in a little water. When lobelia does not act as an emetic, it is very apt to purge. The relaxation caused by lobelia may be counteracted by the stimulating and tonic influence of capsicum. ; LOTIONES. 1205 Specific Indications and Uses.—Lobelia is specifically indicated by the full, labored, doughy pulse; the blood moves with difficulty; pain in chest of a heavy, Sore, or oppressive character; angina pectoris; cardiac neuralgia; pulmonary apoplexy; mucus accumulation in bronchiae; convulsive movements; rigidity of muscular tissues; rigid OS uteri, with thick doughy edges; rigid perineum, or vagi. nal walls; nausea; oppressive sick headache, with nausea. As an emetic when tongue is heavily coated at base. Related Species.—There are other species of Lobelia, as the Blue lobelia (Lobelia syphi litica, Linné), and the Red lobelia (L. Cardinalis, Linné). The first is diaphoretic, emetic, and cathartic; also diuretic and antisyphilitic, and a strong infusion of it has cured gomorrhoea. It has likewise been used in dropsy, diarrhoea, and dysentery. . The root is the part used; dose, from 20 to 60 grains of the powder. The L. cardinalis is said to be anthelmintic, nervine, and antispasmodic. These two varieties are seldom, if ever, used in medicine. Wm. Procter, Jr. (1839) obtained a bitter, acrid, aromatic, oily, liquid alkaloidal body from this plant. It was probably a mixture of the alkaloid with impurities (see D. and M. of N. A.,Vol. II, p. 106). Lobelia Kalmii is the plant shown to Mr. Kalm by Col. Johnson, as the one used by the Indians of Some parts of North America to cure syphilis; and he was likewise informed that Syphilis was known among them previous to their acquaintance with the Europeans, and that they cured it very readily, even when “the patient is half rotten and insupportable to be approached” (General Practice of Physic, by R. Brookes, M. D., 7th ed., 1777, Vol. II, pp. 67–71).