10S 
ON LOBELIA TNFLATA. 
ART. XIII. — REMARKS ON SOME PHARMACEUTICAL PREPA- 
RATIONS OF LOBELIA INFLATA. By W. Procter, Jr. 
The only preparation of Lobelia in flat a which has been 
recognised by the Pharmacopoeia, is the tincture. It has been 
generally admitted, both by Thomsonians and others that heat 
exercises an injurious influence on the activity of this plant, 
and hence preparations in which heat is requisite have been 
necessarily dispensed with. In some observations of a chemi- 
cal character on this plant, published in the thirteenth volume 
of the Journal of Pharmacy, the writer demonstrated several 
of the conditions under which this change by heat takes place, 
and showed that while the active principle in a free state was 
readily destroyed by heat, when it was in saline combi- 
nation with an acid, it was capable of being subjected to a 
heat of 212° Fahr., without injury. 
Any one may be satisfied of this, by making two decoc- 
tions of Lobelia, into one of which a small quantity of carbo- 
nate of potassa is thrown, and into the other as much acetic 
acid. The former will possess none of the peculiar acrimony 
of the plant; the latter, all. 
The object of this communication is to take advantage of 
the above suggestion in making several pharmaceutical prepa- 
rations which require heat in their formation. It is believed that 
Lobelia inflala has yet to receive from professional men that 
share of attention which it deserves, and it is hoped by pre- 
senting to the practitioner the virtues of the plant in a con- 
densed form, that he will take up the subject. 
•ftcetous extract of Lobelia in flata. 
Take of Lobelia seed, bruised, eight ounces. 
Diluted Alcohol, four pints. 
Acetic Acid, one fluid ounce. 
Macerate the bruised seed in the diluted alcohol, to which 
