THE PRINCIPLES OF BOTANY. 
787 
which, indeed, their flavour, -as well as the known injuries 
these sometimes inflict upon stock would have led us to 
conclude. 
The active principle of the plant seems to reside in an 
alkaloid, to which the name of Colchicin or Colchicina has 
been given ; this is without odour, but intensely bitter to the 
taste, and hence it is, doubtless, true that the activity of 
different parts of the plant depends upon their bitterness. 
That Colchicin is a powerful poison may be gathered 
from the facts mentioned by Pereira, that “ one tenth of a 
grain dissolved in weak spirit killed a young cat in about 
twelve hours. The symptoms were salivation, diarrhoea, 
vomiting, a staggering gait, cries, convulsions, and death. 
The stomach and intestines were violently inflamed, and 
contained extravasated blood throughout their whole course” 
(‘ Materia Medica ’). 
Professor Tuson gives forms in his ‘Veterinary Pharma- 
copoeia 5 for a tincture of both the corms and seeds of Colchi- 
cum, and under the head of “ Colchici Cormis” we find the 
following : 
‘•'Actions and Uses. — In excessive doses, irritant poison ; 
in medicinal doses, cathartic, emetic, and sedative ; it also 
increases the secreting action of the skin, kidneys, and par- 
ticularly that of the intestinal mucous membrane. Occa- 
sionally prescribed on account of its sedative and diuretic 
qualities, in small and frequently repeated doses, in rheu- 
matism and rheumatic influenza, also in deep seated or 
constitutional ophthalmia.” 
That the Colchicin is a poisonous weed in pastures, we 
have long known, as in Gloucestershire, where it abounds, 
scarcely a year passes without the local press containing some 
sensational article on “ Cattle poisoned by meadow saffron .” 
We give the particulars of one of the more recent cases 
which have come before us, from the Hereford Times. 
“ Meadow Saffron or Colchicum. 
“ To the Editor of the Hereford Times. 
“ Sir, — Owing to the shortness of keep this year I have 
heard of several farmers losing cattle from eating the blos- 
soms of saffron. I would advise all persons that have that 
poisonous herb growing on their land to have all the blos- 
soms pulled up and destroyed. The expense of so doing is 
trifling compared to the loss of a beast. 
“ Unfortunately I was a great sufferer from saffron years 
back, but I took the precaution to have it all drawn by hand 
