Botanic Remedies (219 



In my experience, lobelia acts rather slowly in 

 spasmodic asthma, as ordinarily administered; so I 

 use it hypodermatically in non-alcoholic ampoules 

 adjusted to a lobeline standard of 0.2 per cent and 

 carrying antiseptics to render the solution stable. 

 This solution I find to act purely as does lobelia, 

 with two exceptions: it is prompt, and emesis is 

 not very readily induced by full therapeutic dosage, 

 one ampoule containing such a dose in a bulk of 

 1 cc. of solution. 



As an antispasmodic lobelia is not alone of value in 

 asthma. Jackson, The Jour, of Lab. and Clin. Med., 

 Nov., 1915, contends that there are two forms of 

 spasmodic bronchial asthma, the one of nervous, 

 the other of muscular origin. I believe both factors 

 prevail in some cases, as also in certain other spas- 

 modic affections. In respiratory diseases we often 

 need an antispasmodic affecting both nerve and 

 muscle. Lobelia is such an agent. 



An antispasmodic is purely a symptomatic remedy; 

 but in spasmodic cough, spasmodic croup, bronchitis 

 with a spasmodic element involved (as well as a 

 nauseant expectorant), lobelia often serves very 

 well. But in no other respiratory affection is its 

 action so definite as in spasmodic bronchial asthma. 

 In these indications moderate, not large, doses are 

 indicated. 



In a number of cases of rigid os in the first stage 

 of labor, lobelia, gradually pushed to the point of 

 nausea, has acted well in my hands. In relaxing 

 strangulated hernia it is not used so much now as 

 it formerly was, though it may be effective in some 

 cases. 



