MATERIA MEDICA AND THERAPEUTICS. 127 



There is also a tincture and wine viffper cent strength. 



Dose of the seed and root. — Fluid Extract or powdered, 

 horse, I to 2 drs. ; sheep and pigs, 5 to 20 ms. ; cattle, 2 to 3 drs. ; 

 •dogs, 2 to 10 mins. The powdered colchicum is used, a great 

 deal ; dose about the same as the Fluid Extract. 



Composition. — Contains tannic acid, gallic acid, etc., and its 

 alkaloid colchicine which exists to the extent of 0.5 per cent 

 in the root and 0.3 per cent in the seed. 



Antagonists' and Incompatibles. — For poisoning, give tannic 

 acid, empty stomach and give demulcents and stimulants. 



Synergists. — Drugs having similar actions.. 



Physiological Actions. — Bitter taste, sialagogue, stimulates 

 secretion- of the stomach, intestines, liver, kidneys and skin ; large 

 or undiluted doses cause gastro-intestinal irritation and depres- 

 sion of the heart ; medicinal doses increase the flow of urine, es- 

 pecially of its solid constituents (urea, uric acid, etc.) as well as 

 the water ; to sum up its actions, it is alterative, emetic, diuretic, 

 diaphoretic, hepatic stimulant and drastic cathartic (the last in 

 large doses), also cholagogue. It is a local irritant, consequently 

 must always be diluted. 



Therapy. — In human practice it is the great remedy for 

 gout. In veterinary practice colchicum combined with potassium 

 nitrate, salicylic acid or salicylate of soda is used in rheumatism. 

 It is used in dropsical conditions with digitalis; in constipation 

 with nux vomica and physostigma, as follows: 



R- Fl. ext. nucis vom., 3 vi. 



Fl. ext. colchici sem., 3 iss. 

 Fl. ext. physostigmatis, 3 i. 

 Aq. qs. ad., 3 xii. 



M. Sig. — One oz. every two hours. 



For lymphangitis : 



R- Tr. Aeon. Rad., 3 iij — iijss. 



Fl. ext. Bellad. 3 ss. 



Fl. ext. Colchici Rad., 3 jss. 



Potas. Nitratis, pulv., 3 iij— ivss. 



Aq. qs. ad., 3 xxiv. 

 M. ft. sol. 



Sig. — Two ounces in % pint of water every 3 hours. 



In Hepatic Congestion. — Use colchicum and belladonna. 

 In Cerebral Congestion. — Colchicum combined with ergot 

 and potas. bromide with a saline purgative ; it is also used in 



/6 7* 



