i 



No. 60. LOBELIA. 25 



because it prostrates the patient without relieving the 



symptoms. It is, however, the base of many quack 

 medicines for consumption, which are violent and dan- 

 erous; they are erroneously called Indian specifics, 

 e Indians fiaving no specific for the disease, but only 

 palliatives. 



This plant loses its active properties by boiling or 

 even scalding. It must be used in substance or tinc- 

 ture ; the^ seeds and young leaves are strongest; the 

 whole plant is commonly collected in ^he fall when in 

 seed, and pulverised. One single grain is sdmetimes 

 wifficient to produce emesis, while a moderate dose is 

 said to be about ten grains of the powder. A tea spoon 

 full of the tincture is the usual dosej when made with 

 the seeds it is more efiicient, and Mn Cannon has told 

 me that a single dose has cured the lockjaw, by relaxing 

 instantly the jaws and the whole system^ it must be 

 poured by the sides of the mouth. One pound of the 

 plant is directed to be infused in a gallon of diluted 

 alcohol. The aqueous cold infusion is equally good. 

 I consider the best and most available use of this plant 

 to be in all nervous diseases, fits, convulsions, spasms, 

 asthma, tetanus, St. Vitus' dance, and perhaps hydro- 

 phobia. I venture to recommend its trial in all these 

 disorders, but not to depend upon it in any other. 



The other species of this genus ought to be investi- 

 gated j some, by their taste, appear to have properties 

 somewhat similar, but milder, and thus perhaps are pre- 

 ferable,- such are the Lobelia siphilitica, L. cardinalis, 

 L. claytoniana^ Sic. The two first named have already 

 attracted some attention ; they are called blue and red 

 Cardinal Flowers, and are handsome ornamental plants. 

 They are figured by W. Barton fig. 47 and 53. 



Z. siphtUtico has large blue flowers in a foliose spike, 

 calyx with reflexed sinusses and oblong leaves? com- 

 mon in woods and roads. It has been analyzed in 

 France, and found to contain a new substance similar to 

 butter, sugar, mucilage, and malates, besides traces of 

 amarine, silex, iron, muriate and phosphate of lime* 

 lignin, Sec* It is a lactecent, acrid, and nauseous nlant 



pellent 



ago 



C 



