Passiflora in the Sleeplessness of Tuberculosis.

Dr. Emmett Keating, of Dearborn Ave., Chicago tells me that for perhaps two years he was assigned to the tuberculosis wards of the Cook County Hospital, and has had a very extensive experience in the treatment of tuberculosis since that time. He early learned to use passiflora to soothe these patients at night, to produce quiet and restful sleep, unbroken by cough. He says that in the treatment of hundreds of cases under the circumstances named above, with this remedy, he does not recall a single disappointment. That is certainly claiming a great deal, and is important in our knowledge of this remedy.

He adds two drams of passiflora, to three ounces of water, and gives dram doses every half hour or hour in the latter part of the day or in the early evening, and if needed, during the night.

He relies upon this remedy with perfect confidence. In occasional cases, he increases the strength of the mixture, until instead of giving five drops at a dose, as above suggested, he gives ten drops at a dose. This is only occasional, however, as he usually finds the five-drop dose to be sufficient. He is assured that this remedy has a peculiarly favorable influence as a soothing and sleep producing remedy during the progress of tuberculosis.

I have been told by a number of physicians that they obtain especially desirable results from the use of lycopus in tuberculosis. I would like to have someone who has now under observation one or more of these patients use lycopus and passiflora in conjunction and report the results to me. From my knowledge of these two remedies, I believe they would work excellently well in conjunction, in this disease.

Ellingwood's Therapeutist, Vol. 2, 1908, was edited by Finley Ellingwood M.D.