THE 
.AMERICAN JOURNAL 
OF 
PHARMACY. 
APRIL, 1 841. 
ART. I.— ON L0BEL1NA, THE ACTIVE PRINCIPLE OF LOBE- 
LIA INFLATA, AND ON SOME OTHER PROXIMATE PRINCI- 
PLES OF THE SEED OF THAT PLANT. By William Proc- 
ter, Jr. 
In the ninth volume of this Journal (183S) was published an 
essay on Lobelia inflata by the author of this communica- 
tion, which embraced a chemical analysis of the plant. Ac- 
cording to that analysis, the following named substances were 
contained in the plant, viz. — gum, gallic acid, resin and 
chlorophylle, fixed oil, a peculiar acrid alkaline principle, 
salts of lime and potassa, oxide of iron and lignin. It was 
stated that the aGtive principle of the plant was destroyed or 
injured by much heat, without determining the cause of the 
phenomenon, or exposing the peculiar circumstances under 
which it happened. 
This active principle was described as possessing alkaline 
properties, as capable of forming crystalline salts with acids, 
and as having a brown color and semifluid consistence. The 
sequel will demonstrate the conditions under which this active 
principle is affected by heat, and the means of rendering it per- 
manent, as well as exhibit a more detailed description of the 
principle itself. 
In volume 5th, page 300, of this Journal, is an essay " On 
vol. vii. — no. i. 1 
