COEMUS COLCEICl 091) 



Again, ia 1834, Gonerbe described an alkaloid from cebadilla under 



the name of Sabadilline, and Weigdin (1871) another called Sabatriiie. 



From the investigations of Wrig-ht md Luff (187S) it appears that 



the above-mentioned statements must be resumed thus :— There are in 



cebadilla three alkaloids, namelv Veratrine, C^^ff^NO", Cevadine, 



CP^H^^NO^ and Cevadilline, C^*H%0^ the second only being crystal- 



lizable. 



Veratrin may be decomposed by means of caustic lye into a new 



alkaloid, verine, and dimethyl pro toeatechuic acid, C^H^ | ^^qq^^- 



By the same treatment, cevadine yields an acid which appears to be 

 identical with tiglime acid (page 5^0), and an alkaloid called cevine. 



Cebadilla yielded to Pelletier and Caventou a volatile fatty acid, 

 SahadilliG or CevadLc Acid, the needle-shaped crystals of which fuse at 

 20' C. ^ Lastly, E. Merck (1839) found a second peculiar acid termed 

 Vemtric Acid, affording quadrangular prisms, which can be sublimed 

 without decomposition. It is yielded by cebadilla to the extent of but 

 ^per mille. It has been shown in 1876 by Korner to be identical with 

 dimethyl-protocatechuic acid just mentioned (see also our article 

 Tubera Aconiti, p. 9). 



Commerce^The quantity of cebadilla {seeds only) shipped in 187G 

 from La Guaira, the port of Caracas, was 35,033 kilos., of which 25,96G 

 went to Germany. No other sort is now imported. 



Uses^Cebadilla is at present, we believe, only used as the source 

 of veratrine. In Mexico, the bulb of the plant is employed as an 

 anthelminthic, under the name of GeboUeja, but it is said to be very 

 dangerous in its action. 



CORMUS COLCHICL 



Tuher vel Bulhits vel Radix Colcldd ; Meadow Saffron Root ; F. Btdbe 



de Golchiqite ; G. ZeitlosenknoUen. 



Botanical Origin^Colcldcmi anhomnale L.~This plant growB ^ 

 meadows and pastures over the greater part of Wem Afnca M^^^^^^^^ 

 and Southern Europe, and is plentiful in many localities i" ^%^^f^^^ 

 and Ireland. In the Swiss Alps, it ascenAs to an elevation of oSOO teet 

 above tlie sea level 



^ History-Dioscorides drew attention to the P^^^t^fa^^^^^^ 

 ?f KoXx^^i., which he stated to be a plant growing in Messema and 

 Colchis.' , A t]a 



This character for deleterious qualities seems to have P^^T^^^^^^^^ 

 yse of colchicum both in ckssical and medieval times Ihus 1 ra^s 

 (1552) warns his readers against its use in gout, for which it is e^^^^^^ 

 mended in the writings of the Arabians. ^^,^^"^^^[^^6^^^^^^ 

 f Paris, author of Dmx Livres des Fenim ^^^^^'fL^^^^^^ poS)n 

 fceth of England, and printed at Antwerp in 1.68 ob erves-^ ce^po^on 

 est ennemy de U nature de rhonime en tout et par tout. IJocioens 



,; His descnption is exact, except tl.at h. -bich seems not t-^ f^^^^^^^ 

 declares the com to have a sweet taste. nale, but muy be so tor some 



