The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1837-06-28
CAPT. WIsE-DR. TURNER'S STATE
MENT-MBDICAL PROPERTIES OF
LOBELIA, &c. &c.

Dir. Turner has come forward with hi.
statement in relation to Capt. Wise,-tht
medical treatment he received at his own
aud at my hands; also, with his own opin.
ion, and that of others, quoted, touching The
medical properties of Lo6elia Infata. The
evidence had ubmitted-backed by un.
impeachable witnesses-in regard to tn,
condition Of Capt. Wise at the time he cam,
under my treatment, and at the time of hi'
death, had silenced all caviling excep
on the part of few individuals. No coun.
ter statement can for momen. be sustain
ed--but thrust is now made at Lobelia.
1t is an ignoble stroke, made in ignorance
if nothing worse, but powerless in any last
ing effect; for it has not the basis Of truth
to rest upon. 1t depends on the same base
less authority that was made some thirty
years ago, and has served the purpose o
ignorant and wicked men from that day to
this. The fact is, the assertions of these
dispensatory book-malters, touching the
medical qualities Of Lobelia are utterly
wanting in evidence to support them.
They have quoted each other without n
knowledge Of the plant OF which they treat,
and their learned pupils of the present day
rest on the same authorised stupidity, with
out being able to produce a single fact that
Lobetid Infata is a poison, or that it ever
acts otherwise than in strict harmoHy with
nature and life.
l will here cite as high authority as the
country can produce B. Waterhouse, M.
d., Professor of theory and practice Of Phys
ic, and Lecturer on Natural History, in the
University at Cambridge, Mass.--he says:
"Dr. Thatcher, under the head of Lobe
liza, has said sufficient to injure the charac-
ter of any medical man of cquivocal repu-
tation.
" 1t does not appear that the compiler of
thc dispensatory had any experience in the
article.
1--WE seriously advise that worthy gen.
tlemln to a revision Of the article of Lobe
lia, and that he have recourse to experience
cd physicians rather than learned diyines on
articles of the Materia Medica.
/" We would fain know if any man
can be named in the United States who has
enriched our Maieria Medica with so MANY
valuable articles as Samuel Thomson
The single article of Lobeiia, whose valua-
bic qualities he was the first to discover and
bring into use, entities him TO the thanks of
his fellow men, Notwithstanding, it has been
denounced as u poison in American Dis
pensatories, in American elementary books
of botany, and even from the bench of the
judiciary, and is still echoed from every ig-
norant blockhead claiming the privilege of
NJ. ID. Yet it is beyond all doubt with
those who have used it, the most efficacious
emetic hitherto discovered aud made public !;
and is as safe as efcctuai; and il ought to
who did not discover the plant, although he
has been honored by the name Of it. Nor
did Lnaeus speak Of it's virtues, nor any
one else before Samuel Thomson, to whom
the honor entirely belongs"
could quote much more to the same
purpose from DR.. Waterhousc, but want Of
room prevents me at this time. AT a future
day, however, | shall eudeavor to publish
more at large from the excellent writings of
this generous man. He is in hmselfa host
sufficient to annihilate the whole fabric of
diplomalised quackery, which would blind
she people, and turn them from those harm
less plants IN which health has been found
70 reside. The truth is, the craft is in dan
ger. Every person by purchasing Thorn
sons Family Right niry be his own and
famiIy's Physician, and then, farewell to
Doctor craft forever.
DR.. Thomson in speaking Of Lobelia In
iia,a, says: " why it has had the name Of
Indian Tobacco given It, know not f; there
is plant that is called by that name, which
grows in this country, but entirely different
from Lobela lnfiata, both in appearance
aud medical virtues"
DIR. Alya Curtis, of Richmond, Va, in
answer to a person who had ignorantly, or
brought the charge of poison
against Lobcla says:-
Ia the course of these observations, |
have seen this very same Lobelia given in
doses of from 80 to 800 grains of the pow
dercd seeds, with the most salutary effect
upon the patient, producing far less debility
than the same patient had often experienced
after the exhibition Of ten grains of calomel.
Your surprise at this declaration may be
dispelled, when you are assured that the
Thomsonian uses other means, which, sus-
tain his patient under the relaxing effects of
Lobelia.
I" But, sir, you very properly have no
relief on your own practical knowledge, in |
deciding on the properties and effects of
Lobelia. You have copied sentence or
two from Professor w. p. C. Barton's Med
ical Botany; and what do you find there
that goes to prone The plant poisonous Dr.
Barton, as you will perceive, if you read
he whole article, made many experiments
With il. He used it for asthma, whooping
;ough, &C., and quotes its use by DIR. Drury,
or asthma; DR.. Thatcher, for Group, whoop-
ng cough, and hydrophobia DIR. Eberlc,
'or Group and hernia; and he recommends
i himself, instead Of the nntimonials, in |
,roup, on account Of its more certain dc-
hon. In every case in which these Doc