114 LILIACEjE 



differing only in color, one being entirely white, and the other reddish- 

 brown externally, internally rose color, with white parenchyma. In 

 preparing for market the outer scales are removed and the bulb is 

 then sliced transversely, the central scales being also rejected as 

 being too fleshy and mucilaginous; they lose about four-fifths of their 

 weight in drying. 



TEST. If made into the official tincture and assayed biologically, 

 the minimum lethal dose should not be greater than 0.006 mil of 

 tincture or the equivalent in tincture of 0.0000005 Gm. of ouabain, 

 for each gram of body weight of frog. 



Powder. Characteristic elements: See Part iv, Chap. I, B. 



CONSTITUENTS. Merck's analysis shows three active principles, scilli- 

 picrin (a bitter principle acting upon the heart), scillitoxin, gluco- 

 side (bitter, burning, also acting upon the heart), scillin, crystalline 

 (producing numbness, vomiting, etc.), with mucilage, sugar, sinis- 

 trin, CeHioOs, like dextrin, and calcium oxalate crystals. Later 

 investigations point to the probability of the above principles being 

 alkaloids, and they are named scillapicine, scillamarine, and scilla- 

 mine respectively. Jamersted's scillain is a poisonous glucoside of 

 a yellow color. Ash, not exceeding 8 per cent. 



ACTION AND USES. Expectorant, diuretic, in large doses emetic and 

 cathartic.. As an expectorant it is usually combined with tartar 

 emetic or ipecac; as a diuretic, with stimulant expectorants. It is 

 very rarely given as an emetic because of its uncertainty, having 

 often proved fatal from its irritant action on the stomach and intes- 

 tines, and by causing hypercatharsis, death occurring by arrest of the 

 heart in systole. Dose: i to 3 gr. (0.065 to - 2 Gm.). 



OFFICIAL PREPARATIONS. 



Acetum Scillse (10 per cent.), Dose: 10 to 30 njf (0.6 to 2 mils). 



Syrupus Scillae (45 per cent, of the 



acetum), 30 to 60 itjj (2 to 4 mils). 



Fluidextractum Scillae, i to 4 ITJJ (0.065 to 0.25 mil). 



Syrupus Scillae Compositus (fl'ext. 8 

 per cent., with fl'ext. senega 8 per 

 cent., and tartar emetic 2 per cent. 



r H gr. to the teaspoonful) 15 to 60 TIJJ (i to 4 mils); i to 2 



fl. dr. (4 to 8 mils). 



COLCHICUM. MEADOW SAFFRON 

 The corm and the seed of Colchicum Autumnale Linne". 



BOTANICAL CHARACTERISTICS. Col'chicum autumnal'e Linne". Corm fibrous- 

 rooted. Leaves about a foot long. Flowers several, lilac or purple, appearing 

 in the autumn without the leaves. 



HABITAT. Europe and North Africa. 



HABIT OF PLANT. Flowers in autumn; the leaves appear in the spring. 



