American Materia Medica, Therapeutics and Pharmacognosy

cough and repeated if possible on two or three consecutive attacks.
In the treatment of bronchial coughs and acute bronchitis, especially if
the bronchial tubes are loaded with mucus and there is a sense of
tightness with some difficulty in breathing, the agent is directly
indicated.
If with pneumonia or broncho-pneumonia there should be rapid shallow
breathing with anxious expression of the countenance and a tendency to
cyanosis, this agent is clearly indicated. It improves the heart's action;
relieves the capillary circulation, and dissipates cyanosis, more quickly
than any other remedy.
It is well known that in the treatment of pneumonia in the later stages,
symptoms occur frequently which seem to threaten an almost immediate
fatal termination. This group of symptoms is promptly met with a single
hypodermic dose of lobelia. This is especially true with children. I have
many reports where the agent snatched the little patient as it were, from
the grave, just as death's door seemed to be closing upon it.
When from any cause, usually from heart complications, the patient
complains of shortness of breath, especially if there be any sense of
oppression in the chest, or tightness around the chest, a medium dose of
lobelia hypodermically will give full freedom and in many cases a careful
properly timed repetition of the injection will give permanent relief.
In the treatment of nausea, persistent vomiting, and a generally
disturbed condition of the stomach, if ten drops of lobelia be added to half
a glass of water and a teaspoonful be given by the mouth every ten or
fifteen minutes, it will often give prompt relief.
It is also useful adjusted in the same manner as the above for sick
headaches and given over a period of time with reference to the
conditions that induce the disease and also to any possible periodical
recurrence of the disease, it will be found curative.
It was used successfully in one case of persistent hiccough. One-half
dram repeated in half an hour cured the case.
In the treatment of acute spasm in the stomach, in the pylorus or
cardiospasm, this agent is of immediate benefit. It is exceedingly
beneficial in spasms of any kind within the abdomen. Some obstinate
Ellingwood’s American Materia Medica, Therapeutics and Pharmacognosy - Page 282