180 LOBELIA INFLATA. 
those, which the chewing or smoking of tobaccs 
occasions in persons unaccustomed to its use. 
When_ swallowed in substance, it exeites very 
speedy vomiting, accompanied with distressing 
and long continued sickness, and even with dan- 
gerous symptoms, if the dose be large. A melan- 
choly instance of death, occasioned by the use of 
this plant, in the hands of a quack, is detailed in 
the sixth volume of the Massachusetts Reports, in 
the trial of Samuel Thomson, an empiric practising 
in Beverly, for the murder of Ezra Lovett. In 
this trial it appeared, that the patient, being con- 
fined by a cold, sent for the pretended physician, 
who gaye him three powders of Lobelia in the 
course of half an hour, each of which yomited him 
violently, and left him in a great perspiration 
during the night. The next day two more pow- 
ders were administered, each of which operated 
by vomiting and occasioned great distress. In 
like manner two other powders were given. the 
subsequent day, leaving the patient in a state 
of great prostration. _ Several days after this, the 
physician came again, and finding his patient 
still worse, administered: several more powders, 
which occasioned great distress, and at length 
ceased to operate. Finding that the stomach was 
not sensible to the emetic effect of the Lobelia, 
