Se 
MONOPERIGYNES, 251 2 
officinale). These are drastic purgatives, violent emetics, 
_ narcotics, and also produce a powerful diuretic effect. They 
are very active medicines, have an acrid taste, and in too 
large doses produce great irritation of the intestinal canal. 
_ The Eau medicinale (a favourite remedy in gout) is supposed 
_ to owe its virtues to the presence of veratrum or of colchi- 
cum; and preparations of the latter are now much used in 
gout and rheumatism, and in dropsies. It allays the pain, 
and seems to act as a sedative. The tincture of the seeds, 
M. Richard mentions, is more energetic than that of the 
bulb. The fleshy tubers of the Colchicum illyricum are also 
purgative, and the Gloriosa superba (Methonica superba) 
- is said to possess the properties of the order in a high degree. 
The powder of the Veratrum album has been used as an 
_errhine. The flowers and leaves in this family possess more 
_ or less the same properties as the rootsand seeds. Veratriim = 
_ viride is similar to V. album in its properties. see 
Officinal Plants. 
Colchicum autumnale. 
Veratrum album. 
Veratrum Sabadilla. 
Helonias officinalis. 
_ Potsonous Propertires.—The same principle which ren- 
ders this family so useful in medicine, produces very — 
dangerous effects on the animal economy, when taken in — 
too large a dose. Veratrin, when injected into a vein, — 
Causes death by tetanus, without any other apparent irrita- 
tion. Plants of this — may be ranked among the nar- 
cotico-acrid poisons. 
Helonias Srigida, H. erythrosperma, H. peer 
