Botanic Drugs 



sensations of an intoxicating character as much 

 different from any effect of tobacco alone as could 

 be imagined; and prolonged use of such cigarettes 

 invariably produces great derangement of the di- 

 gestive organs, very little resembling the dyspepsia 

 induced by excessive use of tobacco, together with 

 cardiac symptoms often of a distressing character. 



"The habit of smoking coumarin in this form 

 appears to become more inveterate, more exacting, 

 than that of the use of tobacco alone, so that the 

 unhappy victim for such he should be called is 

 never comfortable except when indulging." 



The above throws more light on the pharma- 

 cology of coumarin than anything else I have 

 encountered. 



Melilotus contains very little coumarin; but what- 

 ever action it has is dependent upon it. 



THERAPEUTICS. It is a little difficult to deter- 

 mine a scientific place for melilotus in therapy; but 

 it has a reputation in the treatment of neuralgia. 

 From my own experiments with the drug, I believe 

 its rational indication to be in painful conditions 

 dependent upon cerebral hyperemia. It has, in my 

 hands, relieved congestive headache and some cases 

 of neuralgia. The drug is evanescent in action. 

 The maximum dose of the fl. is 10 minims; but 

 much smaller doses frequently repeated give better 

 results. 



Assuredly melilotus is an active drug; but just 

 how far it is wise to extend its use remains to be 

 seen. Theoretically, it should aid in treating hay- 

 fever. 



RED CLOVER, Trifolium pratense, has a long- 

 established reputation as a vegetable alterative. 



