198 COLCHICUM. 



this form it is continued for weeks together, other opening 

 medicines, such as jalap, being added to it as occasion may 

 require .* 



Dr. Bardsley -j" has employed this remedy in the manner 

 pointed out by Mr. Haden, but with very different results, and 

 the reviewer J of Mr. Haden's work equally agrees with Dr. 

 Bardsley in depending on the early use of the lancet. Colchi- 

 cum combined with saline diaphoretics, is nevertheless ex- 

 tremely useful in subduing inflammatory rheumatic fever, and 

 other complaints of a decided increased action. 



The preparations of colchicum are sometimes employed in 

 consumption, water in the chest, inflammation of the larynx, 

 and combined with purgatives in inflammation of the air-vessels 

 of the lungs ; but there is always a degree of uncertainty in 

 their operation §. 



The British Colleges of Physicians direct a vinegar, oxymel, 

 syrup, wine, and tincture. 



VINEGAR OF COLCHICUM ||. 



Take of Fresh Colchicum bulb, sliced, one ounce ; 



Distilled vinegar one pint ; 



Proof spirit one ounce. 



Macerate the colchicum bulb with the vinegar in a covered vessel for 

 twenty -four hours ; then express and set the liquor aside that the feculencies 

 may subside; lastly, add the spirit to the clear liquor. 



Employed chiefly in dropsies of the abdomen and chest. Half 

 a drachm to a drachm, in any bland fluid, every four or six 

 hours. 



Sir C. Scudamore^, from comparative trials with the powder 

 of the root, the tincture, and the acetous preparation, gives pre- 

 ference to the latter, on account of its remarkable mildness. 

 By joining it with the sulphate of magnesia he found it certain in 

 its operation on the bowels**. 



* Mr. Haden, Jun., Lib. cit. p. )7- 



I Dr. Bardsley, Lib. cit. p. 117- 

 ^ Edinb. Med. and Surg. Journ. vol. xvii. p. 452. 

 § Dr. Murray's Syst. Mat. Med. and Pharm. 6th edit. 1832, p. 297- 



II Acetum Colchici Pharm. Land, et Dubl. 



m Observ. Use Colch. Autumn, in Gout, 1825, p. 22. 



** Treatise on Gout and Rheumatism, 2d edit. 1817, p. 185. 



+ 



