On the Action of Medicines, &c. 339 



other respects corresponds with it ; and if these medicines act 

 through the medium of the circulation, the only difference may 

 be, that the one is more quickly received into it than the other. 



This power of the eau medicinale, which I have stated to be 

 exactly similar to that of the cokhlcum autumnale over the 

 local symptoms of gout, 1 have ascertained by experiment more 

 than six times upon myself ; at one time the symptoms went 

 off in six hours, at another in twelve, and at others in twenty- 

 four hours. 



As we know the sensible effects of mercury, whether it is in- 

 troduced into the circulation by the absorl)ents, or received into 

 the stomach, are the same, we conclude, whenever these se::si- 

 b!e effects are met with, that mercury is actually in the circula- 

 tion. 



It therefore occurred to me, that if the sensible effects of the 

 infusion of the colchiciim should prove to be the same, whether 

 it is introduced into the circulation by the jugular vein, or re- 

 ceived by the mouth into the stomach, that we might equally 

 in both cases conclude it to be in the circulation. To determine 

 this point, thirty drops of the vinous infusion of the colchicum 

 (made by macerating two pounds of the fresh roots in twenty- 

 four ounces of Sherry wine, in a gentle heat for six days, the 

 spirit being previously carried off by heat,) was diluted with a 

 drachm of water, and conveyed into the circulation of a mo- 

 derately sized dog by the jugular vein. The dog's pulse in a 

 natural state is 140 in a minute. 



In five minutes, the dog had a tremulous motion of the mus- 

 cles and fluttering oi the pulse, accompanied with nausea, but 

 no retching to vomit. In fourteen minutes, the pulse was 180 

 in a minute and hid frequent intermissions. In four hours, the 

 pulse was 120 in a minute, of its natural strength, and had fre- 

 quent intermissions. In seven hours, the dog had a natural 

 motion, the pulse had no intermission, was 140 in the minute. 

 The dog had a good appetite for food, and appeared in perfect 

 health. 



The same dog at the end of three complete days swallowed 

 sixty drops of the same infusion, exactly double the quantity 

 that had been introduced into the circulation. In two hours, he 

 became languid, the pulse wiry and weak, but 140 in the minute. 

 In four hours and a half, the languor nuich less and the pulse 

 natural. In eight hours, the dog had had a natural motion. 

 In eleven hours, was in good spirits and very well. 



The sensible effects u|)on the dog were similar to those pro- 

 duced upon myself, but in a less degree. Under the influence 

 of a violent fit of the gout, in the ankle, on the 23d of Decem- 

 ber 1815, at ten o'clock in the morning, I took sixty drops of 

 Y 2 the 



