100 
ORIGINAL COMMUNICATIONS. 
inflated capsule, crowned with the persistent calyx, and con- 
taining in its two cells numerous small brown seeds. 
This plant is very common throughout the United States, 
growing principally by road sides, in neglected fields, and 
along the edges of woods in clayey sterile soils. It may 
be noticed along all the roads leading from this city. 
This species of Lobelia begins to bloom in the last days 
of 7th month, (July) and its flowers continue to expand 
in succession until the end of 10 mo. (October.) Dr, William 
P. C. Barton mentions his having seen it bloom on the 16th 
of 11th mo., and I can corroborate this statement from having 
observed an individual plant in flower on the 6th day of the 
same month on the road between Baltimore and Belair. 
When wounded it emits a milky juice. The whole plant is 
possessed of active properties, but the leaves and capsules are 
to be preferred, owing to the large amount of ligneous fibre 
contained in the stalks. 
The time for gathering the Lobelia inflata is when the capsules 
upon the lower parts of the stem and branches are well formed 
and numerous, while the flowers are still upon their summits, 
which generally occurs between the latter part of the 8th and 
the beginning of the 10th month. After being plucked its 
roots should be deprived of all extraneous matter by washing, 
and then carefully dried in the shade, in an upright position, 
as the seeds are liable to escape by the shrinking of the valves 
at the top of the capsule. 
PROPERTIES. 
Dry Indian tobacco has a slightly irritating odour, and 
when chewed, though at first productive of but little sensa- 
tion, communicates a burning acrid impression to the poste- 
rior part of the tongue and fauces, very analogous to that 
produced by the common tobacco; and is attended also by the 
flow of saliva, and the nauseating effects upon the stomach, so 
characteristic of that plant. It yields its virtues to water, 
alcohol and ether, but owing to the solubility of the fatty 
