Lobelia syphilitica.

Dose.—Of the powdered root of Lobelia Syphilitica, from grs. xx. to ʒj , taken in some warm diaphoretic infusion; of a decoction of an ounce to a pint of water, from one to three ounces.

Therapeutic Action.— Lobelia Syphilitica is diaphoretic, diuretic, emetic, purgative, and said to be antisyphilitic. Its medical properties and uses, however, are but very imperfectly understood. The root, when administered in small doses, acts as a sudorific and diuretic; in larger doses, as an emetic and cathartic. Rafinesque states that it is chiefly sudorific and diuretic. Tt was employed by the Indians as a specific in the treatment of syphilis; the secret of its use was purchased of them by Sir H. Johnson. Its utility in this disease requires confirmation; indeed, the limited trials made with it have shown that it possesses no powers of this kind.

Lobelia Cardinalis.—The Cardinal Flower, according to Griffith, possesses much the same properties as the agent just considered. It is also recommended as a valuable discutient poultice to glandular swellings, painful tumors, etc. It is used principally in decoction, one ounce to a pint of water. Dose, one to two ounces, repeated as often as necessary.

The American Eclectic Materia Medica and Therapeutics, 1898, was written by John M. Scudder, M.D.