COLCHICUM. 363 



pressure has to be reduced, veratria cautiously given, or the 

 Tinctura Veratri Viridis, may be of much service. 



5. REMOTE LOCAL ACTION. 



Veratria quickly appears in the urine, being excreted by 

 the kidney. 



Colchici Cormus COLCHICUM COKM. The 

 fresh corm of Colchicum autumnale ; collected about 

 the end of June ; and the same stripped of its coats, 

 sliced transversely, and dried at a temperature not 

 exceeding 150. 



Characters. Fresh corm about the size of a chestnut, 

 flattened where it has an undeveloped bud ; furnished with an 

 outer brown and an inner yellow coat ; internally white, solid 

 and fleshy ; yielding when cut a milky acrid and bitter juice. 

 Dried slices about a line thick, moderately indented on one, 

 rarely on both sides, firm, flat, whitish, amylaceous. 



Substances somewhat resembling Colchicum : Tragacanth and 

 Squill, which have different texture, and are not kidney-shaped. 



Dose. 2 to 8 gr. in powder. 



Colchici Semiiia COLCHICUM SEEDS. The 

 fully ripe seeds of Colchicum autumnale. 



Characters. About the size of white mustard seed, very 

 hard, and of a reddish-brown colour. 



Substance resembling Colchicum Seeds : Black Mustard, which 

 is smaller. 



Composition. Colchicum contains an active principle, 

 colchicin, C^HjqNOg, an amorphous, yellowish, bitter alkaloid ; 

 with tannic and gallic acids, starch, sugar, gum, etc. 



Preparations. 



A. Of Colchici Cormus : 



1. Extraction Colchici. 25 in 1. The expressed juice of 



fresh Colchicum Corms, decanted from deposit ; heated 

 to 212 Fahr. to coagulate albumen; strained; and 

 evaporated. Dose, 1 to 3 gr. 



2. Extraction Colchici Aceticum. 18 in 1 . Made like the simple 



extract, Acetic Acid being first added to the crushed corms. 

 Dose, % to 2 gr. 



3. Vinum Colchici. 1 dried in 5. Dose, 10 to 30 min. 



B. Of Colchici Semina : 



Tinctura Colchici Seminum. 1 in 8. Dose, 10 to 30 min. 



