874

ELEMENTS OF MATE HI A MEDICA.

Rep'

without avail. In a case of periodical epilepsy, Dr. Currie {Med-vol. i. p. 163) prevented the return of the disease by the application ^tobacco cataplasm to the scrobiculus cordis, half an hour before j -'pected paroxysm. In a veiy bad case of spasm of the ritna U °i fa ( e swhich resisted powerful depletion by the lancet, Dr. Wood (UnitedDispens.) applied with success a tobacco cataplasm to the throat.spasmodic asthma, tobacco, either smoked or taken intern ally j i n naating doses, has been found occasionally to give relief. e

observation is unfavourable to the use of tobacco smoke, which 1 ‘ yrepeatedly found to bring on convulsive cough and spasmodic ,,((1

of breathing in persons afflicted with chronic catarrh. Dr- j ja9

(Lancet for 1836-7, vol. ii. pp. 253-4) says, the tincture of tobacco ^been sold and used to a great extent, under the name of tinct 11 ^.^

lobelia, and that it proved successful in spasmodic asthma.

In rtf'

bile

it

of the os uteri, a tobacco clyster failed to produce relaxation, g Jcaused alarming constitutional symptoms (Dr. Dewees, Comp-Midwif p. 378, 1825). , pg r,

5. In Dropsy. —Tobacco was recommended, as a diuretic m

by Dr. Fowler {op. supracit.), who published a number of cases of ‘ j psarca and ascites which had been relieved by it. (See also Game > ^Duncan's Med. Comment, for 1797, Dec. 11, vol. vi.) Whatever heo ^may have been obtained, in these cases, by the use of tobacco, sh°' 1 ^ t0ascribed, I suspect, rather to the sedative powers of this agent, tin 1 ^its influence over the kidneys. In small doses it is an uncertain ^ uT ^j, a tand in larger doses it causes such distressing nausea and depression? epractitioners have long since ceased to use it in dropsical cases. . pashes of the tobacco plant have also been used in dropsy (Garde ?Duncan's Med. Com. Dec. 1, vol. iii.) v j.

6. As a topical remedy. —Dr. Vetch ( Med.-Chir. Trans. . j a p-

p. 356) recommends the infusion, as an anodyne and sedative t°p lL-a . j C)plication, in gouty and rheumatic inflammation of the joints, teS gand sclerotic coat of the eye, and in erysipelatous inflammation. U e ” j p{Mat. Med. i. 122) recommends a fomentation of tobacco l ea ' Ct j ia sphimosis and paraphimosis. An infusion or ointment of tobacco 0been used in porrigo and other skin diseases, as well as in some obstiulcers. The smoke, applied to the hair, is a popular meanspediculi. Dr. feigmond {Lancet, 1836-7, vol. n. p. 249) says, tub ^promotes the growth of the hair. Toothache has been relieve 1tobacco smoke. ■ g t

In addition to the preceding, there are various other diseases a £ a a0 dwhich tobacco has been employed. Thus in soporose affections vasphyxia, tobacco clysters have been employed; but they are 1,1 ^likely to do harm than good. Tobacco has also been used asanthelmintic. ot

Administration.— Tobacco is rarely administered in substance. Fr* ^six grs. of snuffhave been taken as an emetic, and are said to have <>l ier j oJ1as effectually as two grains of emetic tartar. For internal adminisUJ*the wine of tobacco is generally employed. Dr. Fowler used an iff(prepared with an ounce of Virginian tobacco to a pound of ‘ ,01 ,pj, ewater), which he gave in doses of from sixty to a hundred drops- jbest time for administering it he found to be two hours before dinner ^at bed-time. The usual tobacco enema is the infusion prepared accor