4i8 



CAMPANULACE^E 



DESCRIPTION OF DRUG. In the market the herb is broken up, but the 

 fragments of green leaves, small pieces of the longitudinally ridged 

 stem, the rather elongated, dried flowers, and the inflated, mem- 

 branous capsules serve to identify it; odor irritating when inhaled; 

 taste very pungent, persistently acrid, and tobacco-like. 



Powder. Characteristic elements: See Part iv, Chap. I, B. 



FIG. 246. Lobelia inflata Portion of plant and flower. 



CONSTITUENTS. Lobeline (a poisonous, acrid, yellowish, aromatic liquid 

 alkaloid), lobelic acid, lobelacrin (an active principle, probably lobe- 

 late of lobeline), inflatin (a tasteless, colorless, and odorless, probably 

 inert, neutral principle), resin, fixed oil, gum, probably volatile oil, 

 salts, etc. 



Preparation of Lobeline. Evaporate the acetic alcoholic tincture to syrup; 

 triturate this with MgO in excess; agitate nitrate with ether. Evaporate ether 

 and concentrate over sulphuric acid. It is quite volatile. 



Preparation of Lobelacrin. Obtain by concentrating tincture of lobelia in 

 persence of animal charcoal; exhaust charcoal with boiling alcohol. It is the acrid 

 principle, lobelate of lobeline. Ash, not more than 8 per cent. 



