624

ELEMENTS OF MATERIA MEDICA.

full doses, so as to produce a copious evacuation of the bowels, and thenthe quantity must be considerably diminished. Though purging is notessential to the therapeutical influence of Colchicum, it is admitted bymost that, in a large number of cases at least, it promotes the alleviationof the symptoms. Hence, many practitioners recommend its combina-tion with saline purgatives, as the sulphate of magnesia. Sir CharlesScudamore has experienced “the most remarkable success from adraught composed of Magnesite, gr. xv. ad xx .; Magnes. Sulphat. 5 j. ad~ij. ; Aceti Colchici, gj. ad 5 ij.; with any distilled water the most agree-able, and sweetened with any pleasant syrup, or with 15 or 20 grains ofExtract. Glycyrrhiz.”

2. In Rheumatism. —The analogy existing between gout and rheuma-tism has led to the trial of the same remedies in both diseases. As faras my own observations have gone, I cannot say much in praise of Col-chicum as a remedy for rheumatism. Indeed, though I have employedit extensively in both the acute and chronic forms of the disease, I havenever been fully satisfied that much benefit resulted therefrom. Rheu-matism may affect the fibrous tissues of the joints, the synovial mem-brane, the muscles or their aponeuritic coverings, the periosteum, ° fthe neurilema, constituting thus five forms of the disease, which may hedenominated respectively the fibrous, or ligamentous ; the synovial, arth-ritic, or capsular ; the muscular; the periosteal ; and the neuralgic formsof rheumatism (Dr. Macleod, Load. Med. Gaz. xxi. 120). Of thesecolchicum is said to produce its best effects in the synovial form. It i- sremarkable, however, that in all the severe cases of this variety of rheu-matism wdiich have fallen under my notice, the disease has proceededunchecked, or was scarcely relieved by the use of colchicum. In one i»'stance, that of my much-lamented friend, the late Dr. Cummin (whose caseis noticed by Dr. Macleod, in the Land. Med. Gaz. xxi. 358), the diseaseproved fatal by metastasis to the brain. In another melancholy but notfatal case, the gentleman has lost the sight of both his eyes, and hasboth knee-joints rendered stiff. In neither of these cases was colchicumof the slightest avail.

Of the mode of administering colchicum in “ rheumatic gout,” recoin'mended by Mr. Wigan ( Lond.Med. Gaz. June 30, 1838), I have no ex-perience. He gives eight grains of the powder in some mild diluent ever/hour until active vomiting, profuse purging, or abundant perspiration*take place ; or at least till the stomach can bear no more. The usumquantity is eight or ten doses; but while some take fourteen, others canbear only five. Though the pain ceases, the more active effects of the col-chicum do not take place for some hours after the last dose. Thus admi-nistered, Mr. Wigan declares colchicum “ the most easily managed,most universally applicable, the safest, and the most certain specific* ,flthe whole compass of our opulent Pharmacopoeia .” But its use in thes elarge doses requires to be carefully watched. .. v

3. In Dropsy . —Colchicum was used in dropsy with success by Sfimc

(Libellus). It has been employed in dropsical cases with the two-l°view- of purging and promoting the action of the kidneys. Given ^combination with saline purgatives, I have found it beneficial in s#cases of anasarca of old persons. ,

4. In inflammatory diseases generally. — Colchicum was recommenas a sedative in inflammatory diseases in general by the late Mr. C-