COLCHICUM AUTUMNALE. 201 
Besides its supposed specific properties in gout, it has been 
employed by Macleod, Wigan, and others, in rheumatism and 
rheumatic gout (Lond. Med. Gazette, vol. xxi., June 30, 1838). 
By Storck, in dropsy (1. c.) By Haden, in inflammatory dis- 
orders generally (Pract. Observ. on the Colch. Autumnale, 1820). 
By Dr. Hastings, in chronic bronchitis (Treat. on Inflam. of 
Mucous Membrane of the Lungs). By Dr. Lewin, in fevers 
(Edin. Med. and Surg. Jour., 1837). By Shearman, in syphilis. 
By Williams, in venereal nodes. By Mr. Raven, in hysteria, 
hypochondriasis, chorea, and convulsion (Lond. Med. and Phys. 
Jour., 1817). By Ellotson, in prurigo. By Vogt, in erysi- 
pelas. By Miiller, in rheumatic headache. By Pereira, in 
humoral asthma and other chronic bronchial affections (Elem. 
of Mat. Med., p. 625). In leucorrheea, by Rulton. In arthritic 
carditis, by Schénlein, etc. 
Description.—Perennial, Flowers in September and October. 
Bulb (cormus) solid, resembling that of a tulip, furrowed on one 
side. Leaves strap spear-shaped, blunt, entire, dark green, smooth; 
a foot or more long, and from one to two inches broad. Flowers 
several, rising from the root, and appearing in succession, pale 
purple, sometimes white ; tube from five or six to eight or ten 
inches long, white, and surrounded at the base by two or three 
membranous sheaths. mb cut into six somewhat unequal, 
oblong, upright, concave segments. Germen at the base of the 
bulb inclosed in one common sheath, and accompanied by the 
rudiments of the future leaves. Styles as long as the stamens, 
thread-shaped, reaching nearly to the base of the tube. Stigmas 
linear, recurved, channelled, downy. Fruit oval, formed of 
three inflated, many-seeded capsules. Seeds round, whitish, 
polished. ‘The flowers appear in September, the leaves and 
fruit not till the spring following (Bazter).* 
* “The seeds lie buried all winter within the root, in spring they grow up on a 
fruit-stalk, and are ripe about the time of hay-harvest. May not the very great 
length of the shafts account, in some measure, for the delay in ripening of the 
seeds? As this plant blossoms late in the year, and probably would not haye 
