MEADOW 5AFFR0N. ^OT* 



risy, pneumonia, and other equally well-ascer- 

 tained cases of increased action. This medical 

 author considers the effect of the Colchicum to be 

 the same as that which results from the employ- 

 ment of the lancet, or any other of the means 

 commonly adopted for lessening increased action. 

 Mr. Haden generally recommends the root 

 powdered, whilst Mi'. Waller thinks the tincture 

 to be more uniform and certain in its effects, 

 and some physicians now give the preference to 

 the flowers, and others to the seeds ; so that every 

 part of the plant seems possessed of powerful 

 properties, and on this account all experiments 

 should be left in the hands of able physicians. 

 Dr. Storck of Vienna seems to have the credit 

 of having restored this plant to the modern list 

 of Materia Medica. 



The poisonous properties of this plant seem 

 known to all animals, as it were by instinct, 

 since no cattle will touch it, the very lambs fly at 

 its aspect, yet the young shepherdesses of the 

 mountains become sorrov/ful, when it appears 

 amongst the grass, lest their playful flock should 

 inadvertently swallow it. It is no uncommon 

 thing to see these plants standing alone in pas- 

 tures where every other kind of herbage has 

 been eaten down without a leaf of this plant 



