646 



MEDICAL BOTANY. 



remedy in gout, it does not appear to have been employed until again brought 

 forward as a specific in the same disease, by Papagonius, in the thirteenth 

 century, when it became highly popular, and received the name of " Anima 

 articulorum." It was again neglected and almost forgotten, until the experi- 

 ments of Storck, in 1763, assigned it its true rank in the Materia Medica, 

 since which it has enjoyed more or less favour with the pro'fession as a re- 

 medial agent in gout, rheumatism, &c. 



Medical Uses. — Colchicum is an irritant, and in over-doses, an acro-nar- 

 cotic poison. When administered in small and repeated quantities, it acts as 

 a nauseant and cathartic, diuretic and diaphoretic, and at the same time ex- 

 ercises a sedative power in alleviating pain and irritation. It is principally 

 employed in the treatment of gout and rheumatism, after the reduction of 

 undue excitement by bloodletting and other evacuants. Some difference of 

 opinion exists as regards its mode of action ; many practitioners are of 

 opinion that its beneficial influence is mainly owing to its purgative opera- 

 tions, and therefore combine it with some of the cathartics ; others, again, 

 strongly maintain, that where it operates on the bowels, no good results are 

 obtained ; and a few, among whom is Dr. Williams (Princ. of Med. 129), 

 incline to the belief that gout and rheumatism are owing to an excess of uric 

 acid and urea in the blood, which is obviated by the discharge of them under 

 the influence of Colchicum. Be this as it may, it appears necessary in giv- 

 ing this remedy to administer it in full doses, until some of its marked effects 

 display themselves, as nausea, vertigo, &c, when the doses may be dimi- 

 nished or wholly omitted. It has also been 

 Fig. 301. administered in many inflammatory and 



febrile affections as an auxiliary to blood- 

 letting. 



The root and seeds are given in sub- 

 stance in doses of two to eight or ten 

 grains ; in tincture, of which the medium 

 dose is from half a drachm to a drachm ; 

 in the wine, in the same quantities, and 

 in the vinegar in like manner. 



Trillium. — Linn. 



This genus does not properly belong to 

 the Melanthacese, but as it is allied to this 

 order, it has been noticed under this head, 

 to avoid introducing a natural group of 

 plants, of which it is the only one deserv- 

 ing of mention. 



Sepals 3, herbaceous. Petals 3, coloured. Stig- 

 mas 3, sessile. Berry superior, 3-celled ; cells 

 many-seeded. 



An extensive genus of North American 

 herbaceous plants, with somewhat tuber- 

 ous roots, having a faint, slightly terebin- 

 thinate odour, and a peculiar aromatic 

 taste. When chewed they cause a flow 

 of saliva, and a sensation of heat in the 

 t. cemuum. throat and fauces. Nothing is known of 



