COLCHICUM. 

 OXYMEL OF COLCHICUM*. 



lf)9 



Take of Fresh Colchicum bulb, sliced, one ounce ; 



Distilled vinegar one pint ; 



Clarified honey two pints. 



Digest the bulb with the vinegar in a glass vessel for two days; then to 

 the liquor strongly expressed frona the root add the honey ; and lastly, boil 

 down the mixture to the consistence of a syrup, frequently stirring it 

 during the boiling with a wooden spoon. 



Given indropsies and humoral asthma, but it is very uncertain 

 in its operation. A drachm, gradually increased to an ounce, 

 in any bland fluid, twice or thrice a day. 



SYRUP OF COLCHICUM •f'. 



Take of Fresh Colchicum bulb, sliced, one ounce ; 



Distilled vinegar sixteen ounces ; 



Refined sugar twenty-six ounces. 



Macerate the bulb in the vinegar for two days, shaking the vessel occa- 

 sionally ; then express gently, strain the liquor, and add the sugar ; lastly, 

 boil a little, so as to form a syrup. 



A similar preparation to the oxymel, and used for the same 

 disorders. The dose is from half a drachm gradually increased 

 to four, six, or eight drachms. 



TINCTURE OF COLCHICUM SEED]}:. 

 Take of Seeds of Colchicum, two ounces ; 



Proof spirit . one pint. 



Macerate for fourteen days, and strain. 



The tincture is the most active preparation of colchicum ; 

 proof spirit being the strongest solvent of the principles of the 

 root ; and we find, as a medicine, that it stimulates the most, 

 and often irritates the stomach and bowels in a remarkable 

 degree §. The dose is from ten drops gradually increased to 

 two drachms. 



WINE OF COLCHICUM ||. 

 Take of Fresh Colchicum bulb, bruised, one ounce; 



Proof spirit four ounces ; 



Distilled water eight ounces. 



Macerate for fourteen days, and filter. 



• Oxymel Colchici. — Pharm. Duhl. 



t Syrupus Colchici Autumnalis. — Pharm. Edinb. 



X Tinctura seminum colchici. — Pharm. Dubl. 



§ Sir C. Scudamore's Observ. p. 33. 



11 Vinum Colchici Pharm. Land. 



