99-2 
species in the Transactions of the Upsal Academy in 1741." It was introduced 
into England in 1859, and noticed medically by Schoepf in 1787, his observations 
’ being mostly founded upon the use of the plant by the American aborigines as an 
emetic, and application for “sore eyes.” It afterward became in frequent use by 
Botanic physicians, and in 1813 was more or less prominently brought before 
the medical profession by the Rev. D. Cutler, as a valuable remedy in asthma. Its 
use was not carried into England until 1829. 
The name Indian Tobacco might have arisen either from the peculiar tobacco- 
like sensation imparted to the tongue and stomach on chewing the leaves, or from 
the fact that the American Indians often smoked the dried leaves to produce the 
effect of the drug. 
Lobelia has been recommended and used in the Botanic practice particularly, 
either alone or compounded with other drugs, for almost every disease known, and 
has proven curative in some cases, palliative in more, useless in many, and a deadly 
poison in more cases than one. Its action, as will be seen farther on, is, as in all 
narcotics, principally upon the brain, thus making it anything but a desirable 
emetic, as which it is most frequently used. From the power it exhibits to relax 
the whole system, it has been found very valuable in spasms, tetanus, croup, 
strangulated hernia, whooping cough, and even hydrophobia. Samuel Thomson 
claims to have discovered the virtues of the plant, though without doubt his first 
ideas of its emetic property were gathered from the Indians. He went so far as 
to claim it curative in all disorders, giving it with such a reckless hand that he 
fatally poisoned one of his patients, a certain Ezra Lovett, for which he was 
arrested on the charge of murder, escaping punishment because said Lovett 
was foolish enough to take the prescription of a man who claimed to carry such 
potent (?) drugs as “ wedl-4my-gristle” and “ram-cats.” 
Lobelia Inflata is officinal in the U. S. Ph., as: Acetum Lobelia; Extractum 
Lobelia Fluidum ; and Tinctura Lobelia ; and in the Eclectic Materia Medica as 
above, and as: Cataplasma Lobelie@ et Ulmus ;* Enema Lobelic Composita ;° Ex- 
tractum Lobelice Fluidum Compositum ;*  Linimentum Stillingie Compositum ;° 
Lotio Lobelia Composita * Oleum Lobelia; Pilule Aloes Composite ;' Pulvis 
Lobelia Composttus * Tinctura Hydrastis Composite ;° Tinctura Lobelie Com- 
posita *” Tinctura Lobelia et Capsici ™ Tinctura Sanguinarie Acetata Composita ; 
Tinctura Sanguinarie Composita, and Tinctura Viburnt Composita.™ | 
PART USED AND PREPARATION.—The whole plant gathered in Septem- 
ber, or when the last flowers are developing and the lower capsules are ripe, 
: Trans, Upsal, 1741, tt, P: 43. ? Lobelia, Elm, and Lye, 
: on ae et Capsici 388, water 3ss. 4 Lobelia, Skunk-cabbage, and Sanguinaria 
s of Stillingia, Cajeput, and Lobelia, ® Bayberry bark, Lobelia leaves and seeds, and Yellow Dockroot. 
é Boneset, Mandrake, Ginseng, Aloes, Soap, Gamboge, and Capsicum and Lobelia seeds. 
Lobelia, Blood-root, Skunk-cabbage, Ipecac, and Capsicum 
® Hydrastis and Lobelia, ‘ 
0 Lobelia, Wild Ginger (Asarum Canadense ?), Bl ; 
" Lobelia, Capsicum, and Skunk-cabbage sa ee wigecieg detente 
12 Blood-root, Lobelia, Skunk-cabbage root, and Vinegar 
High Cranberry bark, Lobelia seed, Blood-root, Skunk-cabbage seed, Capsicum, and Stramonium seed. 
