403 FLORA KISTORICA, 



agreeable and dangerous effects which too fre- 

 quently attend the Eau Medicimle. 



The most eminent practitioners of modern times 

 have acknowledged the extraordinary effects of 

 the Colchicum in relieving that complicated form 

 of disease called rheumatic gout, but they have 

 at the same time regretted the untractable nature 

 of the medicine, which is so uncertain in its 

 effects. Mr. Waller is of opinion that much of 

 this variety and uncertainty depends upon the 

 season in which the roots are dug up, and he 

 recommends the latter end of April or the begin- 

 ning of May as the most desirable time. 



By late experiments made on this plant, a pe- 

 culiar and hitherto unknown alkali has been dis- 

 covered, and in this its principal virtues is thought 

 to reside, and this we presume acts upon the 

 gout acid, if we may be allowed to give the dis- 

 ease that appellation, for modern experiments 

 seem to demonstrate that the cause of gout in the 

 system is a peculiar acid. 



It now appears that the medicinal virtues of the 

 Colchicum are not confined to the gout and the 

 rheumatic affections of the joints only, as Mr. 

 Haden has lately published a treatise on the 

 properties of this root as a remedy against the 

 most decidedly inflammatory cases, such as pleu- 



