COLCHICUM 605 



wrinkled ; internally white and solid ; often in transverse 

 slices, reniform in shape, and breaking with a short, mealy- 

 fracture ; inodorous ; taste sweetish, bitter and somewhat 

 acrid. 



Constituents. — 1, the alkaloid colchicine (CoaHjsNOe), is the 

 active principle; it exists to the extent of 0.5 per cent.; is 

 amorphous or crystalline, and soluble in water and alcohol ;. 

 2, colchiceine (CjiHoaNOg), occurs naturally and is produced 

 artificially by the action of acids on colchicine ; slightly 

 soluble in water, soluble in alcohol ; 3, sugar ; 4, starch ; 

 5, gum. 



Incompatibles. — Astringents, tincture of guaiacum and 

 iodine. 



Dose.—m & C, 3 ss.-ii. (2.-8.) ; Sh., gr.x.-xx. (.6-1.3) ; 

 Sw. & D., gr.ii.-viii. (.12-.5) in powder. 



Dose,— Colchicine— B.. & C, gr.|-J (.01-.03); D., gr. yfg- 

 ■^ (.0006-.0012), by mouth or subcutaneously. 



PREPARATIONS. 



Extractum Colchici Radieis Fluidum. Fluid Extract of Colchicum 

 Root. (U. S. P.) 

 Made by maceration and percolation with alcohol and water, arid 

 evaporation, so that 1 Cc. = 1 Gra. of colchicum root. 



Dose.—B.. & C, 3ss.-ii. (2.-8.); Sh., mx.-xx. (.6-1.3); Sw. & D., 

 mii.-viii. (.12-.5). 



Vinuvi Colchici Radieis. Wine of Colchicum Root. (U. S. P.) 

 Made by percolation of colchicum root, 400, with alcohol, 150 ; and 

 white wine to make 1000. 



Dose. — Twice that of colchicum root. 



Vinuni Colchici. (B. P.) 

 Dose. — Twice that of the root. 



Colchici Semen. Colchicum Seed. (U. S. P.) 



Synonym. — Colchici semina, B.P.; semences de col- 

 .chique, Fr.; zeitlosensamen, G.; semen colchici, P.G. 



The seed of Colchicum autumnale Linne (nat. ord. 

 Liliacese). 



Description. — Subglobular, about 2 Mm. thick, very 

 slightly pointed at the hilum ; reddish-brown, finely pitted, 



