Botanic Remedies 251 



asthma, and even in acute mania. Thirty to sixty 

 minims, repeated several times, of the "mother 

 tincture" (strongly alcoholic, 10 per cent tincture), 

 and every ten minutes in asthma, were recom- 

 mended, the drug being especially commended in 

 treating children. See "Pocket Manual of Homeo- 

 pathic Materia Medica," Boericke, edition of 1903. 

 Having many cases of insomnia and asthma, and 

 as I was a sufferer from insomnia myself at that 

 time, I tried it out pretty thoroughly. In asthma 

 it failed utterly; but it certainly was effective in 

 insomnia some cases and I slept well under its 

 influence. The explanation is this: It is a good 

 "night-cap" from the alcohol contained therein. Take 

 two teaspoonfuls of brandy (the alcoholic equiva- 

 lent of Dr. Boericke's recommendations), "repeated 

 several times," as he says of passiflora, and one is 

 almost sure to sleep. 



But Eclectic literature is more conservative. It 

 sets up the contention that preparations made from 

 the fresh drug are alone of value, and the Eclectic 

 preparations are of fluidextract strength. Eclectic 

 authorities report the finding of two glucosides in the 

 drug. They give the dose of the fl. as 5 to 60 minims. 

 It is not contended by them that it will relieve pain 

 or act in sthenic conditions; but they class it as an 

 antispasmodic and mild soporific of value in asthenic 

 insomnia, and in some cases of infantile spasm, and 

 the restlessness and insomnia of low fevers. They 

 use it in numerous states dependent upon reflex 

 nervous excitement, and in place of the bromides. 



There is not available any credited scientific 

 study of the drug; its pharmacology has not been 

 determined; but I know reliable clinicians who much 



