COLCHICUM AUTUMNALE. 
49 
** roots, when dried and powdered, are of a light fawn colour, and 
'* bitter taste ; the infusion is bitter and pungent ; infused in distilled 
" vineg:ar, the liquid becomes bitter, and warm. Starch is alsa 
" obtainable from these bulbs." It appears, that the active properties 
of Colchicum depend upon one of those peculiar principles recently 
discovered in many vegetables, and denominated alkaloids. We 
are indebted to MM. Pelletier and Caventon for the discovery of this 
peculiar substance in the roots of the meadow saffron, to which 
they gave the name of Veratrine, from having previously discovered 
a similar substance, possessing the same properties, in the seeds of 
the Veratrum Sabadilla, and the roots of the Veratrum Album. 
*' The root of the Colcliicum, according to MM. Pelletier and 
" Caventon, yields on analysis : 1. a fatty matter, composed of oil, 
** adipocire, and a volatile acid ; 2. yellow extractive colouring 
*' matter ; 3. acid gallate of veratrine ; 4. gum ; 5. fecula, with. 
" inuline and woody fibre. It yields very few ashes."* 
Chemical Properties of Veratrine.! Veratrine is scarcely 
at all soluble in cold water; boiling water dissolves ^J^^ of its 
weight, and becomes sensibly acid : it is very soluble in ether and 
in alcohol. It is insoluble in the alkalies, and soluble in all the 
vegetable acids. It saturates all the acids, and forms with them 
incrystallizabie salts, which on evaporation take the appearance of 
gum. The sulphate alone affords rudiments of crystals when its 
acid is in excess. Nitric acid combines with Veratrine, but if 
added in excess, especially when concentrated, it does not produce 
superoxidation, but very rapidly resolves the vegetable substance 
into its elements, and gives birth to a yellow detonating matter, 
analogous to the bitter of Welther. Veratrine restores the blue of 
turnsol paper when reddened by acids. Exposed to the action of 
heat, it liquefies at a temperature of 50° (122o Fah.) above zero, 
and has then the appearance of wax: on cooling, it forms an amber- 
looking mass of a translucent appearance. Distilled on the naked 
fire, it swells up, becomes decomposed, and produces water, much 
oil, &c. A voluminous, carbonaceous mass remains, which, when 
incinerated, leaves only a very slightly alkaline residuum. Magendie's 
Formulary. 
Action of Colchicum upon the Animal Economy. The 
meadow saffron when recent and exhibited in large doses, generally 
* Magendie's Formularjr. 
t For the preparation of Veratrine, we must refer our readers to M. Pelletier'g 
ovrn account. 
VOL. I. H 
