420 MEDICAL BOTANY. 



it was employed in this way with success in a case of strangulated hernia by 

 Dr. Eberle. In fact it very closely resembles tobacco in its operation on the 

 system, and requires much caution in its use. 



It may be given in substance, tincture, or infusion. The dose of the first, 

 as an expectorant, is from one to three grains ; as an emetic, from ten grains 

 to a scruple. The best form, especially in asthmatic attacks, is the tincture, 

 the dose of which, as an expectorant, is from ten drops to a drachm ; and 

 double the last quantity, as an emetic or antispasmodic, to be repeated as oc- 

 casion may require. The infusion is seldom employed, nor can it be recom- 

 mended. Dr. Reece, who introduced its use into England as a remedy in 

 asthma, employed it in the form of an oxymel. 



A number of other species of Lobelia have been used in medicine ; and 

 among those of native origin, the L. siphilitica obtained much celebrity for 

 its supposed powers in the cure of syphilis, for which purpose it was highly 

 esteemed by the Indians, and the knowledge of its virtues long kept a secret 

 among them, but was at length communicated to Sir Wm. Johnson, who 

 transmitted an account of it to Europe. It did not, however, attract much 

 attention until Kalm, who also heard of its reputed efficacy among the Indian 

 tribes in Canada, again brought it before the profession, and induced some- 

 what extended trials of it, the results of which were at first thought to fully 

 justify the character bestowed upon it ; and it was highly praised by Lin- 

 naeus, Havermann, and Depau. But subsequent experiments have by no 

 means confirmed their statements ; and it is now seldom or never used, 

 though it is certainly an active article, and applicable to the same kind of 

 cases in which the L. inflata has been found useful ; it is less powerful, but 

 appears to possess greater diaphoretic and diuretic powers than that plant. 

 From an analysis by M. Boissel, it is shown to contain a fatty, butyraceous 

 matter, sugar," mucilage, a volatile bitter substance, some salts, &c. 



The L. cardinalis, another indigenous species, and one of the most beauti- 

 ful of the genus, possesses much the same properties as the last, and is also 

 said to be anthelmintic, and to be equal to the Spigelia. 



Group XXVII. — Ericales. 



Order 64.— PYROLACE^E.— Lindley. 



Sepals 5, inferior, persistent. Corolla slightly monopetalous, hypogynous, regular, de- 

 ciduous, 4 — 5-parted, aestivation imbricated. Stamens hypogynous, twice as many as 

 divisions of corolla, those opposite to the petals often destitute of anthers ; anthers 2- 

 celled, opening by pores. Ovary superior, 4 — 5-celled, many-seeded, with a hypogynous 

 disk. Style solitary, declining. Fruit capsular, 4 — 5-cclled, dehiscent, with central pla- 

 centae. Seeds numerous, very small, with a loose, winged skin. Embryo minute at the 

 base, of a fleshy albumen. 



A small order of herbaceous plants, rarely suffruticose, with simple, entire, 

 or dentate leaves. They are found in North America, Europe, and the north 

 of Asia. Their properties are those of the tonics, and they also appear to act pow- 

 erfully on the urinary organs. The various species of Pyrola are considered 

 as vulneraries, and are also employed in domestic practice as sudorifics, 

 astringents, and antispasmodics. Galax rotundifolia is vulgarly called Car- 

 penter's leaf, from its supposed vulnerary powers in healing wounds and 

 bruises. 



