194 COLCHICUM. 



modactyl of the ancients, has been known for ages. Occasional 

 mention is made of it by the ancient writers both of Greece 

 and Rome ; but it appears the earliest particvilar account of 

 its properties was given by Alexander and Paulus ^Egineta, who 

 regarded it as a remedy of great efficacy in gout *. Demetrius 

 Paragomenus -j-, who wrote in the thirteenth century, likewise 

 particularly mentions it. 



In the reign of Queen Elizabeth, a translation of Wertzung's 

 work I appeared, in which a very favourable account of the 

 virtues of colchicum is given. More recently we find it enjoy- 

 ing its reputation, and entering into the " Pulvis Arthriticus " of 

 Sir Theodore Mayerne, in which it was combined, among other 

 et cetera, with the powder of unburied skulls (cranii humani in- 

 sepulti) ; an ingredient which, it would appear, was not much 

 relished by his Majesty King James the First, for it is added in 

 a note—" N.B. In casu D. N. Regis qui av^poTtofcc-.'Ovg odit, cra- 

 nium humanum poterit in ossium bubulorum rasuram permu- 

 tari." What alteration the efficacy of the nostrum suffered from 

 this change we are not informed §. 



Colchicum, duly preserved, is powerfully diuretic, purgative, 

 and emetic. It is to the enterprising spirit of Storck that we 

 are chiefly indebted for the knowledge of its diuretic virtue, 

 who, by experiments with a vinous infusion of the fresh root on 

 his own person, was fully satisfied, that if its deleterious acri- 

 mony were destroyed, it might prove an efficacious medicine ; 

 accordingly he invented an acetous preparation; 

 storck's vinegar of colchicum. 

 Take of Fresh bulb of Colchicum, one ounce ; 

 Vinegar one pint. 



Digest for forty-eight hours with a gentle heat, and strain. 



Finding this article acrid to the taste, and that it constringed 

 and irritated the fauces, and excited a slight cough, he added 

 some honey to it ; 



storck's oxymel of colchicum. 



Take of Vinegar of Colchicum, one ounce ; 



Honey two ounces. 



Gently boil it down to the consistence of honey. 



* See p. 189. 



f Ker's Medical Sketches. 



:{: Praxis Aledicinae Universalis. 



§ Loud. IMed. and Phys. Journ. vol. xlv. p. 219. 



