ANTISPASMODICS, 35 
purpose. He took out his pocket case and gave the child 12 
drops fluid extract of lobelia. Its convulsions relaxed in a 
minute, and the child was well soon after. The same gentle- 
man told us of a neighbouring doctor of the old school, who - 
was carrying about with him for a month or so a very 
bad jaundice. Dr Whitford met him several times, till 
he felt the shame of a doctor plainly telling people by his 
looks that he could not cure himself of what is usually a 
simple trouble; and so he said to him, ‘‘ Doctor, when you 
are tired of that little trouble come round to my office and I 
will cure you.” Pocketing his prejudice, he came and was 
cured with a few doses of lobelia. A good emetic of it will 
send off a bilious attack almost at once. Time and space 
prevent our dwelling further at present on this valuable herb, 
but in our part on the treatment of diseases, and as an 
ingredient in many of our compounds, we shall show our faith 
initsmerits. It can be taken, first in an infusion of one ounce 
of the dried herb to a pint of water, dose, from a tablespoonful 
to a teacupful; as an emetic, of the powdered herb, a tea- 
spoonful to a cup of boiling water, or in weak Composition 
Tea; cover, let cool, strain, sweeten, and drink if for an 
emetic till it has its effect. Spoonful doses of this make 
a good cough mixture. 
The powdered seeds. as we stated, are about four times tho 
strength, and should be used accordingly. Lobelia will be 
found among the illustrations. 
ASSAFCITIDA. 
This valuable gum is the juice of a tree named Ferula 
Narthax Assafcetida. Itisimported from’Persia, Afghanistan, 
and neighbouring countries. It was reckoned one of the best in 
the old practice for spasms of all kinds. The smell of it being so 
unpleasant renders it repugnant to most people. The gen- 
eral opinion expressed about its flavour is a comparison to 
rotten onions. On this account it isseldom given in the crude 
state; pills and tincture being the usual way it is adminis- 
tered. The complaints in which it has been found beneficial 
are, asthma, hysteria, melancholia, nervous debility, accom- 
