2 Colchicine 



his life.-^ Since gout and rheumatism were common aihiients among 

 the noble and the wealthy, the attending physicians, who were often 

 servants of the court, must have held a rather precarious position. 

 Yet, in spite of its poisonous natvne, ColcJiicum in correct dosage was 

 capable of relieving pain if administered as seed, powdered corm,- or 

 even dried flowers. It is probable that substitutes for Colcliicmn, as 

 well as similar plants containing very small amounts of colchicine, 

 were employed. 



Plants were frequently used in ancient days without sound basis, 

 and more magic than medicine was practiced; in fact, magic and the 

 medicine man have been associated through the ages. Our modern 

 word pharynacy originates-^ from an Egyptian term pharmaki and the 

 Greek pharmakon. These terms are in turn related to another Egyp- 

 tian word pharmagia, which means the art of making magic. 



Another civilization, the Hindu, developed a medical system inde- 

 pendent of the Egyptian and the Babvlonian. This period is known 

 as the Vedic,-'"' and extends from 2U()U b.c. to 800 b.c. Much informa- 

 tion about treating diseases with plants is transmitted in the Vedic 

 text.--' Although in this book specific plants are mentioned and cer- 

 tain diseases noted, and while Colchicum luteum, a producer of pure 

 colchicine, is common in the Indus River area of the Himalayas, the 

 present Indian ColcJiicum cannot be deciphered from this book. 



At some time during the Vedic period a traffic in drugs was estab- 

 lished between the Orient and Arabia. Good evidence is at hand to 

 show that Hindu medicine had an influence upon Arabian medical 

 knowledge. There was a serious decline in Hindu medicine, but the 

 traffic in drugs continued. This exchange reached such proportions 

 that Pliny the Elder complained about his money being drained to 

 the Orient for drugs. Two species, known as the Kashmir hermodac- 

 tyls,''' could have been among these drugs. They are identified as 

 ColcJiicum Juteum and Merendera persica. Although both contain 

 colchicine, the respective quantities diff^er markedly, as will be de- 

 scribed later. 



Botanical historians-^ tell of an ancient class in Greece known as 

 the Rhi/oiomi, or root gatherers. They were pharmacobotanists prac- 

 ticing their art in the pre-Hippocratic era; their powers resembled 

 those of inagicians, associating all manner of ritual with the collec- 

 tion, preparation, and dispensing of roots. Such details as the wind 

 direction, time, season, as well as astronomical signs were observed. 



Since foods were primarily grain and leaves, the roots must have 

 served other purposes such as medicine. Driving away evil spirits 

 that caused disease may have been helped by using underground plant 

 parts, and the trade in roots by the Rhizotomi flourished.-^ 



More than fifty species containing colchicine are native to the 

 region where the Rhizotomi practiced. ^^ The most notable species is 



