Lobelia purpurascens

Lobelia purpurascens. AT. O. Lobeliaceae. Tincture of whole fresh plant.

Clinical

Heart, paralysis of. Influenza; headache of. Lichen tropics. Lungs, paralysis of. Snake-bites, Tongue, paralysis of. Typhdd fever. Vertigo.

Characteristics

The first mention of this plant was made by Erskine C. White (/f. W xxxii. §03) under the name Lobelia rubra corrected later by F. Opp (H. W.f xxxiii. 328) and E. C. White himself (/f. W,, xxxiii. 510) to Lob. purpurascens. Opp describes the plant thus : " Stems angular, procumbent. Leaves ovate, green on surface, and either purple or purple and»green underneath, somewhat serrulated, rather firm, usually from hdf to one inch long ; pedicles axillary, much shorter than the leaves, reflexed after flowering. Flowers white above, purpled beneath, delicately scented, most dioecious, corolla four or five lines long, the lower lobes oblong, obtuse, the two upper ones shorter and narrower, more acute and incurved. Capsule narrower, ovoid, fully three lines long ; seeds rather large, often flattened.' It grows profusely in the Australian bush, preferably in moist places, and most profusely, says Opp, where snakes most abound. White adds that it prefers loose sandy soils. This is interesting since James S. Bray, quoted by White and Opp, observed that the iguana after a fight with a snake, whenever it happened to be bitten, ate this Lobelia. On the other hand, Bray once found a number of sheep dead, and from their appearance he at first thought they had been bitten by snakes ; but on examining their stomachs he found the leaves and stalks of Lob, purp, and he came to the conclusion that this was the cause of their death. White gives a short pathogenesis in which symptoms like the effects of snake-poison are prominent His symptoms, together with those of Opp, who cured with his teeth and swallowed a leaf (H. W,, xxxiv. 306), will be found arranged in the Schema. They t)ear a strong family resemblance to those of Lob, inflata. White gives a clinical experience of his own which is important : '' This plant, if only touched carelessly with the teeth, produces overwhelming giddiness. I had noticed that the sickening stupor and headache it produces exactly resemUed those of La Grippe, before I knew the name of the plant. My headache disappeared like magic under Lob. put. f , and I used to notice that all chest symptoms were avoided under its sway. La Grippe breaks out in wet weather. This plant, with its tiny gem-like white blossoms, always carpets the earth offer each rain Throughout the year.'' Other general characteristics of Lob. purp. White gives as follows : Intense prostration, vital and nervous. Deadly chili without shivering, but overpowering the system. Paralysis of lungs and resultant poisoning with carbonic acid as ; vomiting and coma. Acts very like Bapt. in low typhoid conditions, and seems to neutralise the poison of influenza. Growing on sandy soil it contains much flint, and like Secal.j Staph. and the common carrot, agrees especially well with patients who are deficient in silica, and who are nervous, liable to boils, of a hasty disposition, perspire profusely, and whose teeth are always decaying. Symptoms are < by movement ; < in damp weather. wibAonM.— Compile: Lob. inf., Tabac., Lach. and other snakepoisons. Bapt (influenza, typhoid) ; Secal., Staph, (teeth).

Causation p. 313

Snake-bites. Blood poisoning. BTMPTOmL

Mind p. 313

Hasty disposition. — Dejection.

Head p. 313

Vertigo accompanied with nausea and stupor. — Overwhelming drowsiness (exactly as produced by snake-venom), sicbsningf dizzy headache, esp. just between eyebrows. — Dull and distressing pain in head, with fulness in base of occiput and forehead ; pain < by shaking head and any motion.— Confused feeling in head.

Eyes p. 313

Eyes weak; on closing them an apparent soreness. — Impossible to keep eyes open, almost spasmodic closing of (upper) lids.

Nose p. 313

Dryness and fulness of nose.

Teeth p. 313

(Suited to persons whose teeth decay early from lack of SUka.)

Mouth p. 313

Mercurial taste in mouth.— Thick saliva in mouth.— Tongue white and paralysed.

Throat p. 313

Dryness in throat, of burning character.

Appetite p. 313

Great thirst.— Loss of appetite.

Stomach p. 313

Sinking feeling in stomach.— Nausea accompanying vertigo.

Urinary Organs p. 313

Increased secretion of urine.

Chest p. 314

Tightness of chest with great oppression and laboiirins breathing. — Sensation as if lungs paralysed ; superficial breathing. — Breathing slow, almost ceases.

Heart p. 314

Distressed feeling in region of heart — Heart paralysed ; beat almost imperceptible.

Neck and Back p. 314

Weakness in lumbar region accompanied with great languor. 81. Limt>8 in General.— Weariness and extreme weakness of the limbs.

Lower Limbs p. 314

Great weakness of lower extremities; knees appear to collapse under weight of body.

Generalities p. 314

Exhaustion and dejection. — General debility with loss of appetite and great languor. — The symptoms come on with great rapidity, within five minutes of taking the drug. — Low typhoid condition.

Skin p. 314

A prickling itching all over body like prickly heat (lichen tropics).

Sleep p. 314

Overwhelming drowsiness. — Restless sleep.

Fever p. 314

Deadly chill without shivering, but overpowering the System.<— General feeling of feverishness. — Profuse perspiration.— (Typhoid fever. — Influenza.)