BOTANIC MATERIA MEDICA, I21I 
chici. Colchicum has little or no odor, but a 
sweetish-bitter and decidedly acrid taste. Col- 
chicum is cathartic, emetic, and sedative in its 
action. ‘The dose of the powder (rarely given) 
is from 2 to 8 grains (0.13 to 0.52 grams); of the 
extract, from 1 to 4 grains (0.6 to 0.25 grams); 
of the fluid extract, 5 to 15 drops; of the wine, 
15 drops (1 gram). The officinal preparations 
are the extract, fluid extract, and wine (vinum 
colchici radicis). Colchicum is poisonous in 
overdoses, and care should always be exercised 
in dispensing it. 
Corydalis, Corydalis Canadensis.—Natural 
order Fumariaceze. Commonly known as Tur- 
key Pea or Corn, Squirrel Corn, etc. Native 
of Canada and many parts of the United States. 
This perennial plant attains a height of from 6 
inches to 2 feet, and bears greenish-yellow flow- 
ers in racemes, often streaked with purple; the 
leaves simple and of a pale-green color; the 
root grows in tubers somewhat round and de- 
pressed, about % of an inch (6 millimeters) 
thick, and of a tawny-yellow color. Internally 
of a creamy white, and showing a granular frac- 
ture when broken. Corydalis canadensis, or 
formosa, as some have it, contains starch, mu- 
cilage, fumeric acid, and an active principle 
called corydalia, or corydaline. The corydalis 
is tonic, diuretic, and alterative in its effects, 
and highly thought of by some practitioners of 
medicine as an alterative; given in the form of 
powder, extract, and elixir. The dose of the 
powder is 15 to 30 grains(1 to 2 grams); of 
the extract, % of that quantity; of the elixir, 1 
fluid drachm (4 grams). There are several va- 
