American Materia Medica, Therapeutics and Pharmacognosy

destroys the germs of disease, and at once puts the patient in the best
possible physical condition to resist its inroads. It preserves intact the
functions of the body, and preserves or restores the functions of the
nervous system. It is nontoxic, has not only no anaphylaxis following, but
a single dose restores a patient suffering from anaphylaxis from the
serum antitoxin. The latest report at this writing received found nine
children in a hovel with no care, all with diphtheria and only one with
the disease mildly. Using nothing whatever except lobelia, the physician
lost one case out of the nine, putting them, however, into as good
condition as possible in their surroundings from the beginning of his
treatment.
The dose for diphtheria varies from ten minims to forty, and is
administered according to the demands of the patient from one hour at
first to six hour intervals, with one or two injections a day for any
subsequent paralysis.
Lobelia has long been used in asthma. Taken by the mouth severe
spasmodic cases are relieved. Hypodermically the same results are
obtained. An occasional case however will show unfavorable results, and
in some cases where there are serious heart lesions, there has been
prostration, depression, and threatened death which were combated only
by vigorous measures. The smaller dose should be used in these cases
until no evidence of idiosyncrasy or susceptibility are known to occur. In
the absence of these indication's then the agent can be used fearlessly
and in increasing doses if necessary.
This agent is equally satisfactorily in the treatment of diphtheriticmembranous—croup.
The observations have been universally favorable.
Simple spasmodic croup yields to it promptly. As yet no undesirable
results are reported. The dose is from five to fifteen minims, repeated as
needed.
In the treatment of tonsillitis, it will not be needed except in the severer
forms, in which it will promote satisfactory results.
In the treatment of coughs, those due to pneumogastric irritation, are
quickly relieved as well as the pain accompanying. It promotes normal
expectoration and respiratory freedom.
In the treatment of whooping cough, but few cases are reported at this
time, but the suggestion is that it be given just preceding the attack of
Ellingwood’s American Materia Medica, Therapeutics and Pharmacognosy - Page 281