From The Hindu Archives, December 25, 1925: Cure for asphyxiation

A new life-saving drug will shortly be in use. Its main feature is its power to speed up breathing.

The substance is termed Alpha lobelin. The herb, Lobelia inflata, from which it takes its name, was first discovered in America many years ago. It was, however, for a long time in dispute, until in 1915, Dr. Henry Wieland, Professor of Chemistry in the University of Freiburg, in a series of experiments proved it to be a direct stimulant of the respiratory centre, with practically no ill-effects.

One instance of how a man’s life was saved is told in a contemporary. The patient was suffering from a growth in the chest which pressed on the air pipe. In consequence he was subject to spasms, which interfered with his ability to breathe. The injection of lobelin saved his life on three occasions.