coLcuicuM AuTuMNALE. ORD. XLVI. Liliacee. “761 
gently rubbing the root against the tip of his tongue, it rendered 
‘the part rigid, and almost void of sensation, for several hours.‘ 
Ehrmann," Marges,* Murray, and several other writers, also bear 
testimony to the great acrimony of Colchicum; so that we can 
only reconcile these contradictory accounts by supposing these 
roots to vary much according to their age, the soil in which they 
grow, and probably still more according to the season of the year 
in which they are dug up. Baron Stoerck asserts, that on cutting 
‘the fresh root into slices, the acrid particles emitted» from it irri- 
tated the nostrils, fauces, and breast; and that the ends of the 
fingers with which it had been held, became for a time benumbed;;' 
that even a single grain in a crumb of bread, taken internally, 
‘produced a burning heat and pain in the stomach and bowels, 
urgent strangury, tenesmus, colic pains, cephalalgia, hiccup, &e." 
From ‘this relation, it will not appear surprising that we find 
several instances recorded in which the Colchicum proved a fatal 
poison both to’man® and brute animals.° 
From various observations on the effects of Colchicum made by 
Baron Stoerck, and especially upon the infusion of three grains of 
the fresh root in four ounces of wine, he remarked that its diuretic 
—— pi ee and — Coubetaiged! that - its 
& Lib. de Colch. p, 8. 9. 
” Diss. ie Colch. Basil. 1772. §, 5,‘ Vide Journal de Med. tom, 23. p. 32. 59. 
‘App. Med. val. 5. p. 196. 
* BG. Pils. ect. PrTK. 
" Two boys, after eating this plant, which they found growing in a meadow, 
died in great agony. Jo. Agricola Ammonius, Medic. herbar. Uib.1. p. 9. 
See also Ludovici Opera, p. 63. Violent symptoms have been produced by taking 
three of the flowers. Guridel, Plantes d’ dix. p. 123. The seeds likewise have 
been known to produce similar effects. Bresst. Samml. 1723. p. 679. 
° Deer and oxen have fallen a sacrifice to this poison; and according to aie 
two drams of the root killed a dog in thirteen hours, and upon opening its 
abdomen, the stomach and bowels were found to be greatly inflamed, or in 2 
gangrenous state. L. c. p. 17. 
No, 53.—vor, 4. ~9¢ 
