62 6

ELEMENTS OF MATERIA MEDICA.

writer {op. cit. vol. xv. p. 442) also asserts, that the active propertyof the seeds resides in their husk or cortical part, and, therefore,protests against braising them. But were his assertion correct (and it ismost improbable that the embryo is devoid of activity), braising themcannot destroy or injure their activity. The average dose is from f 3 ss-to f5j. I have repeatedly given f5ij. at a dose without any violent elfect.Dr. Barlow, who prefers this to the other preparations of colchicunLadvises that in gout a drachm, a drachm and a half, or two drachms of thetincture, should be given at night, and repeated the following morning-If this quantity fail to purge briskly, a third dose may be administeredthe ensuing night. Externally, the tincture has been employed as »liniment, to relieve rheumatic, gouty, venereal, and other pains. (Lay'"cock, Lond. Med. Gaz. vol. xxiii. p. 899; and vol. xxiv. 388.)

4. Tinctuba [sEMiNmi] Coi.chici composita, Lond.; Spiritus Col-chici ammoniatus, L. 1824.—Meadow Saffron seeds, 3v.; AromaticSpirit of Ammonia, Oij. Macerate for fourteen days, and strain. Dosetqxx. to fjj. This preparation was recommended by Dr. Williams asbeing “ of greater value when acidity or flatulence prevails, than the Vi 11,sem. Colchici , and better adapted to the palates of those who object tothe flavour of white wine.” It is seldom employed. Mr. Brande {Did-,of Mat. Med. 1839) says, doubts are entertained as to the propriety otemploying ammonia in it.

5. Vinum seminum Colchici. —No formula for this exists in any 0the British pharmacopoeias. The following is Dr. Williams’s formulaMeadow Saffron seeds, dried, jij.; Sherry wine, Oj. {wine measure). Mac erate for eight or ten [fourteen] days, occasionally agitating, then Al ter 'The average dose is fjss. to fjj. I have given it to the extent of fell'Dr. Williams says it may be gradually increased to fsiij.

6. Vinum \_cobmi\ Colchici , Lond. Ed.—Dried Meadow Saffr 0 ' 1cormus, sliced, Sviij.; Sherry Wine , Oij. Macerate for fourteen [sevei’’Ed.] days, [express strongly the residuum, Ed.] and strain. AveraSdose, f5ss. to f3j. Sir E. Home {Phil. Trans. 1817) thought thatsecond and subsequent deposits which take place from this wine, conta 1 ' 1the principle which acts on the stomach and bowels, while that vvhi c *cures the gout is retained in permanent solution. But Sir C. Scudain° rL{Treat, on Gout. 3d ed. p. 513) found the sediment to be inert. _

7. Acetum \_cormi\ Colchici, Lond. Dub. Ed.—Fresh Meadowfron cormus, sliced, jj.; Distilled Vinegar , fjxvj. ; Proof Spirit, fsj- ^cerate the meadow saffron cormus with the vinegar, in a covered g* a 'j tvessel, for three days ; afterwards press, and strain the liquor, and setby, that the dregs may subside : lastly, add the spirit to the clear lifl 1 ! 0 'Though the Colleges order the fresh cormus to be used, druggists > rquently prepare it with the dried, on account of the impossibility oi P r

expeditious than the mode hitherto commonly followed, and it exhausts the solid to^rials in general much more completely. As considerable practice, however, is req 1 ' Jfor managing the details in different cases, more especially in regard to the deg>\ tominuteness of division of the solids, and the degree of firmness with which they abe packed in the cylinder, we have thought it right to direct that the method by 111 {6 .ration may be followed as an alternative; but the method by percolation is no"'rferred by all who have made sufficient trial of it to apply it correctly.”