162 LOBELIA INFLATA 



lobelia when death has been occasioned by its improper use, which 

 has frequently happened, require a more detailed description. 

 They have a brownish colour, and are very small, being on an 

 average only -g^th of an inch long, by 7^5 th broad, and when 

 viewed by a magnifying lens are seen to be oval or almond- 

 shaped, and to have their surface marked with longitudinal and 

 transverse ridges with intervening furrows, so as to resemble 

 basket-work. Their powder is of a brownish colour, and commu- 

 nicates a greasy stain to paper. 



The properties of lobelia are especially due to a liquid volatile 

 alkaloid, which was first discovered by Professor Procter, who named 

 it lobelina, and his observations were afterwards confirmed by 

 Bastick in this country in ignorance of his experiments. The herb 

 also contains traces of volatile oil, which was first obtained by 

 Pereira and named by him lobelianin. Lobelia has also been 

 examined by Enders at the desire of the authors of Pharmaco- 

 graphia, with a view to isolate the acrid principle to which it owes 

 its taste, and he has discovered this substance in the form of 

 warty tufts of a brownish colour. This has been termed lobelacrin ; 

 it is resolved by the influence of acids or alkalies into sugar and 

 an acid called lobelic add, which had been previously discovered 

 by Pereira and afterwards examined by several chemists. 



Medical Properties and Uses. In small doses lobelia is expec- 

 torant and diaphoretic ; in full medicinal doses it acts as a 

 nauseating emetic ; and in excessive doses its effects are those of 

 a powerful aero-narcotic poison, producing great depression, 

 nausea, cold sweats, and in some cases death. Its effects are 

 very similar to those of tobacco ; hence one of its commonest 

 names, Indian tobacco. Waring says, as an emetic it is inferior to 

 ipecacuanha in safety and certainty of operation. It is regarded 

 by many as a medicine of much value in spasmodic asthma, and 

 generally in affections of the air-passages where there is dyspnoea. 

 As an addition to diuretic medicines it is believed by some practi- 



