180 THE MEDICINAL PLANTS OF THE PHILIPPINES 



Habitat. — Common on the shores of the sea. The D. fastu- 

 om is differentiated by its violet flowers and double corolla. 



Nicotiana Tabacum, L. 



Nom. Vulg. — Tabaeo, Sp.; Tobacco, Eng. 



Uses. — Tobacco is a powerful sedative and antispasmodic, 

 but owing to the accidents it may give rise to, its use in thera- 

 peutics is very limited. Like all the active Solanacese it is 

 effective against neuralgia and spasm of the muscular tissues 

 and is therefore indicated in strangulated hernia and in intes- 

 tinal obstruction. In these conditions the infusion of 1-5 

 grams of the dried leaf to 250 grams of water is given by enema. 

 Trousseau advises non-smokers who suffer from chronic consti- 

 pation to smoke a cigarette fasting, a practice which, according 

 to him, stimulates defecation. For the same condition the 

 people of southern India are accustomed to apply a poultice of 

 the bruised leaves to the anal region. 



Tobacco has been used by enema to combat tetanus ; Dr. 

 Lesth, of the General Hospital for Europeans, Bombay, claims 

 to have obtained excellent results by applying a poultice over 

 the entire length of the spinal column. Dr. Dymock has con 

 firmed this practice. 



A decoction of the leaves is used as a lotion to destroy 

 " pediculi capitis and pubis," and to wash gangrenous ulcers. 



The daily increasing practice of smoking, like all other sub- 

 jects, divides mankind into two camps, one for and one against 

 the habit. Both parties exaggerate their arguments. The 

 abuse of the plant without doubt sets up disturbances of the 

 digestion, the heart and the nervous system. It is furthermore 

 positive that persons of a certain disposition and with certain 

 ailments are injured by even a moderate use of tobacco. The 

 above facts serve as arms for the opponents of the habit ; the 

 robust who smoke and drink to excess and meet with an acci- 

 dental death on a railroad or from an acute disease that over- 



