432 POISONS : THEIR EFFECTS AND DETECTION. [§§ 524 - 526 . 
Pharmacopoeia, 1898. It may be noted that neither extract, wine, nor 
tincture is standardised as to alkaloidal content. 
Quack and Patent Medicines. —In all specifics for gout the analyst 
will naturally search for colchicum. Most gout pills contain the extracts ; 
and liquids, such as *" Reynolds’ gout specific,” the wine or the tincture, 
variously flavoured and disguised. 
The strength of the different pharmaceutical preparations may be 
ascertained by dissolving in chloroform, evaporating off the chloroform, 
dissolving in water (which is finally acidified by from 7 to 10 per cent, 
of sulphuric acid), and titrating with Mayer’s reagent (see p. 266). If 
the solution is diluted so that there is about 1 part of colchicine in 
600 of the solution, then each c.c. of Mayer’s reagent equals 31*7 mgrms. 
colchicine. 
§ 524. Fatal Dose. —In Taylor’s Principles of Medical Juris prudence 
is mentioned an instance in which drachms of colchicum wine, taken 
in divided doses, caused death on the fourth day. The quantity of 
the active principle in the colchicum wine, as found by Johannson 
(■Dragendorff ), being 048 per cent., it follows that 24-4 mgrms. (-378 
grain) were fatal, though not given as one dose, so that this quantity may 
be considered as the least fatal one. Casper puts the lethal dose of 
colchicine at from 25 to 30 mgrms. (-385 to -463 grain). It' is, however, 
incontestable that there are cases of recovery from as much as 70 mgrms. 
(1-08 grain). The lethal dose of the pharmaceutical preparations of 
colchicum may, on these grounds, be predicted from their alkaloidal con¬ 
tents, and, since the latter is not constant, in any medico-legal inquiry 
it may be necessary, where facility is given, to ascertain the strength of 
the preparation administered. 
§ 525. Effects of Colchicine on Animals. —The researches of Ross- 
bach show that the carnivorse are more sensitive to colchicine than any 
other order of mammals. Frogs show a transitory excitement of the 
nervous system, then there is loss of sensation, paralysis of motion, and 
of the respiratory apparatus ; the heart beats after the respiration has 
ceased. Death follows from paralysis of the respiration. The mucous 
membrane of the intestine is much congested and swollen. 
The senior author has seen cattle die from the effects of eating the 
meadow-saffronthe animals rapidly lose condition, suffer great 
abdominal pain, and are generally purged. The farmers, in certain parts 
of the country, have had extensive losses from want of care and know¬ 
ledge with regard to colchicum poisoning. 
§ 526. Effects of Colchicine on Man. —Colchicine poisoning in man 1 
is not very common : 2 deaths (accidental) are recorded in England and 
\\ ales during the ten years ending 1892, and a single death is also recorded 
1 For the curious epidemic of diarrhoea which broke out in the Rhone Gorge in 
1785, and was referred to colchicine, see Foods, p. 248, 5th edition. 
