ASTHMA. 123 



Tartar emetic is sometimes used to cut short an attack. It acts in the same 

 way as ipecacuanha, to which we are inclined to think it is inferior. 



Lobelia injlata, the Indian tobacco, is one of our most valuable remedies for 

 asthma. It does well in the form of asthma associated with indigestion, but proves 

 especially efficacious when in addition to asthma there is bronchitis. It is less 

 useful when the attacks come on periodically, at intervals varying from three weeks 

 to a month. It may indeed for several days postpone or partly suppress the 

 xysm, but after a time it usually breaks out, the lobelia being apparently 

 unable to prevent the attack. The lobelia is taken internally in the form of the 

 tincture. Ten drops of the simple tincture are to be taken in water every ten 

 minutes or a quarter of an hour, until the shortness of breath gives way. The 

 only drawback to this medicine is that it is somewhat uncertain in its action, some 

 people being made sick and faint by doses which others can take with impunity. 

 Those who are in the habit of taking lobelia soon learn what dose suits them best. 

 Even should sickness and faintness appear they soon pass off, and never become 

 serious. The relief obtained from lobelia is often very striking. 



There is another remedy for asthma which we cannot pass by without notice, 

 although we have some hesitation in recommending it, and that is Alcohol. It may 

 be taken either in the form of whisky, brandy, or gin. It is essential that it should 

 be taken very hot and very strong. The mixture should consist of two-thirds spirit 

 and one third water, and it should be so hot as that it is only just possible to drink 

 it. The objection to this remedy is that it grows on one. You begin to take it, and 

 often find it a difficult matter to leave it off. A gentleman who became acquainted 

 with this method of cutting short his attacks was so pleased with it that he drank a 

 quart of brandy in the first twenty-four hours. He went on with this treatment 

 for two months, and in that time took twelve gallons of spirits. The great thing in 

 favour of the alcohol is that it is always at hand, and often succeeds where the 

 more orthodox remedies have failed. 



Iodide of potassium is an excellent remedy for asthma. Asthmatics should take 

 five grains of iodide of potassium or its equivalent, two table-spoonfuls of the 

 iodide of potassium mixture (Pr. 32) three times a day, for a fortnight or longer. 

 Should this fail to afford relief the dose should be increased to ten grains three 

 times a day. Some people never have an attack so long as they take the medicine ; 

 and then it is a good plan to continue it. Should it cause much depression, as it 

 does occasionally, ten drops of sal volatile may be added to each dose. 



There is a remedy for asthma which has been quite recently introduced in fact, 

 within the last year and we cannot refrain from just mentioning it. It is the 

 Grindelia robusta. It is a Californian plant belonging to the natural order Com- 

 positse the daisy family. It is said somewhat to resemble the sunflower, only 

 smaller. The best preparation is the liquid extract of grindelia, and of this twenty 

 or thirty drops are given in a wine-glassful of water three or four times a day, an 

 extra dose or two being taken at the onset of the paroxysm. "We have given it in 

 about a dozen cases, and have obtained some very good results. In the case of a man 

 who had had an asthmatic attack every night for years, it afforded complete relief 

 in less than a week. It will not succeed in every case, and we have had several 



