Colchicum

“ The other two haue been thought by diuers to be Colchica, and so haue they called them, vpon no other ground, but that their flower is in forme and time somewhat like Colchicum, when as if they had marked them better, they might plainly discerne, that in all other things they did resemble Daffodils; but now the names of Colchicum luteum maius, & minus, is quite [78] lost, time hauing worne them out, and they are called by most Herbarists now adayes, Narcissus Autumnalis maior & minor, The greater and the lesser Autumne Daffodill. ”

“ The plants belonging to this order have generally inconspicuous flowers, except Colchicum and Bulbocodium, both of which have flowers like the Crocus. The bulbs of the Colchicum are used in medicine; but they and the whole plant abound in an acrid juice, which is poisonous if taken in too large a dose. The root of Veratrum is also poisonous, and this plant is believed to be the Hellebore of the ancients. ”

“ Veratrine is useless in the treatment of gout. A further curious fact, doubtless of very great significance, but hitherto lacking interpretation, is that the administration of colchicum during an acute attack of gout may often hasten the oncoming of the next attack; and this property, familiar to many gouty patients, may not be affected by the administration of small doses after the attack. Altogether colchicum is a puzzle, and will remain so until the efficient poison of gout is isolated and defined. ”

“ COLCHICUM POISONING. Fodder of bad quality often contains leaves, flowers, and particularly seeds of colchicum, which produce nausea, vomiting, colic and diarrhœa. The colchicine acts particularly on the kidney and heart, producing specific disturbance, indicated by hæmaturia, polyuria, and cardiac palpitation, with lowering of the body temperature.
Even when poisoning is not fatal, it is very apt to produce abortion.
POISONING BY ANNUAL MERCURY. Annual mercury given in green fodder is stated to produce indigestion, diarrhœa, vesical and intestinal hæmorrhage, and early death. ”

“ The general symptoms produced by colchicum are—more or less burning pain in the whole intestinal tract, vomiting, diarrhœa, with not unfrequently bloody stools; but sometimes diarrhœa is absent. In single cases tenesmus, dysuria, and, in one case, hæmaturia have been noted. The respiration is usually troubled, the heart’s action slowed, the pulse small and weak, and the temperature sinks. In a few cases there have been pains in the limbs; cerebral disturbance is rare ”

“ The Colchicum is associated in my mind with the Indian Pipe and similar growths; it is curious, but it isn't pleasing. As the Indian Pipe could not be lured within garden walls, [Pg 456] I will not write of it here, save to say that no one could ever see it growing in its shadowy home in the woods without yielding to its air of mystery. It is the weirdest flower that grows, so palpably ghastly that we feel almost a cheerful satisfaction in the perfection of its performance and our own [Pg 457] responsive thrill, just as we do in a good ghost story. ”

“ Under this medication the pain, tenderness, and swelling rapidly abate, and sometimes with an abruptness that is magical. As soon as the acute symptoms subside, the colchicum should be continued in smaller and less frequent doses until the fever and local tenderness subside. The use of quinia with small doses of colocynth after the colchicum has been discontinued helps to re-establish the strength and regulate the digestive functions. The patient should always be warned against the possible demoralizing effects of a speedy recovery from a serious disease. ”

“ Our druggists supply an officinal tincture of Colchicum (Meadow Saffron) made from the seeds, the dose of which is from ten to thirty drops, with a spoonful of water; also a wine infused from the bulb, of which the dose is the same as that of the tincture, twice or three times a day; and an acetous extract prepared from the thickened juice of the crushed bulbs, of which from half to two grains may be given in a pilule, or dissolved in water, twice or three times a day, until the active symptoms are subdued, and then less often for another day or two afterwards. ”

“ Chronic gouty subjects assert that they are not benefited by colchicum until it has purged them. The [p. 700] lithic-acid diathesis, pyæmia, septicæmia, scurvy,4 diabetes, leucocythæmia, Addison's disease, and syphilis5 have diarrhoea during some part of their progress. The malarial cachexia is often attended with a diarrhoea which quinia alone will relieve ”

“ It is quite possible that there was an ancient trade connexion between the Colchians and the Mediterranean peoples. We learn that women were buried, while the corpses of men were suspended on trees. The principal coast town was the Milesian colony of Dioscurias (Roman Sebastopolis; mod. Sukhum Kaleh) , the ancient name being preserved in the modern C. Iskuria. The chief river was the Phasis (mod. Rion) . From Colchis is derived the name of the plant Colchicum (q.v.) ”

“ History—Colchicum seeds were introduced into medical practice by Dr. W. H. Williams, of Ipswich, about 1820, on the ground of their being more certain in action than the corm. [2621] They were admitted to the London Pharmacopœia in 1824.
Description—The seeds are of globose form, about 1⁄10 of an inch in diameter, somewhat pointed by a strophiole, which when dry is not very evident. They are rather rough and dull; when recent of a pale brown, but become darker by drying, and at the same time exude a sort of saccharine matter. They are inodorous even when fresh, but have a bitter acrid taste ”

“ Colcannon, kol-kan′on, n. an Irish dish, being a stew of pounded cabbage and potatoes with butter. [Cole, cabbage; cannon unknown.]
Colchicum, kol′chi-kum, n. a genus of Liliaceæ—the meadow saffron, its corm or seed used for gout and rheumatism. [L.,—Gr. colchicon, meadow saffron—Colchicus, relating to Colchis, the native country of the sorceress Medea.]
Colcothar, kol′kō-thar, n. a dark-red iron peroxide formed by calcining copperas.
Cold, kōld, adj. the opposite of hot: shivering: without passion or zeal: spiritless: unfriendly: indifferent: reserved.—n. ”

“ The bark is at once succeeded by the inner parenchyme which contrasts strongly with it, consisting of large, thin-walled, porous cells which are completely gorged with starch, but here and there contain colouring matter and bundles of crystals. The starch granules are large (up to 50 mkm.) , spherical, often flattened and angular from mutual pressure. Like those of colchicum, they exhibit a radiate hilum: very frequently they have burst and run together, probably in consequence of the tubers having been scalded. ”

“ This description, together with the cut, will suggest both the uses and positions in which it should be planted; if a single blossom, when brought indoors, proves strongly fragrant, it is easy to imagine what a clump must be in the garden. Like those of the colchicum, its flowers are quickly developed; the leaves grow longer afterwards, and die off in summer.
It thrives in a sandy loam or leaf soil, in a sunny part, and increases itself at the roots like the saffrons. ”

“ That purchased at the shops is generally stale and disagreeable, and is often worse than useless. In some cases it is advisable to take the juice undiluted, but the more common practice is to mix it with about an equal quantity of water. See Rheumatism, Colchicum, Draught (Anti-arthritic) , Lemon Juice, Vinegar of Colchicum, Wine of Colchicum, &c.
Gout Cor′dial. Prep. Rhubarb, senna, coriander seed, sweet-fennel seed, and cochineal, of each 2 oz.; liquorice root and saffron, of each 1 oz.; raisins, 21⁄2 lbs.; rectified spirit of wine, 2 gals.; digest for 14 days, press, and filter. ”

“ They should all be lifted as soon as the foliage is decayed, and kept only a few weeks out of the ground, and then again replanted in fresh soil. The economy of the genus Cólchicum in regard to its bulbs, flowers, and seeds, is altogether singular, and may be termed an anomaly of nature. In producing the new bulbs or off-sets in a very curious manner, the old one perishes. The flowers which arise with long slender tubes from the root die off in October, without leaving any external appearance of seeds. ”

“ The British Pharmacopoeia contains 1) an extract of the fresh corm, having doses of 1/4 to 1 grain, and (2) the Vinum Colchici, made by treating the dried corm with sherry and given in doses of 10 to 30 minims. This latter is the preparation still most generally used, though the presence of veratrine both in the corm and the seeds renders the use of colchicine itself theoretically preferable. The dried ripe seeds of this plant are also used in medicine. They are exceedingly hard and difficult to pulverize, odourless, bitter and readily confused with black mustard seeds. ”

“ Tofieldia is an [311] Arctic plant. The order is rich in pungent, poisonous alkaloids (veratrin, colchicin, etc.) . Officinal; the seeds of Colchicum autumnale (Europe) and Schœnocaulon officinale (Mexico) , and the rhizome of Veratrum album (mountains of Central Europe) .
Fig. 305.—Colchicum autumnale. A Corm seen from the front: k corm; s′ s′′ scale-leaves embracing the flower-stalk; wh base of flower-stalk with roots (w) . B Longitudinal section of corm and flower-stalk: hh brown membrane surrounding the underground portion of the plant ”

“ Colchicums are very poisonous and must not be planted where there can be any danger of their being eaten for edible tubers. The finest in cultivation are Bornmulleri, Sibthorpii, and speciosum, in several forms, including maximum, rubrum, and the new white album. ”

“ Colchicums or Meadow Saffrons are of much value in the garden in autumn, and in large clumps or masses produce a splendid effect. The few spring species are of less merit and are only desirable for those who like collections of uncommon flowers. They like a rather rich soil, and a sunny position. As the leaves appear in spring, the Colchicums should be grown through grass or other herbage where the flowers can have some support. The best time for planting is immediately after the leaves become yellow. The tops of the corms or bulbs should be about three inches below the surface. ”

“ The position of the pistillum in Colchicum (Monocaryum) fasciculare is not easily determined. I believe it to be placed within the anterior segment of the outer series of the perianthium, but, from the great length of the tube, it is difficult to ascertain such a point in dried specimens. This, however, is the position in which I should expect it, both in reference to the usual relation of the solitary simple pistillum to the axis of the spike, or to the subtending bractea in all phænogamous plants ”

“ This trace of iron in the presence of salicylate gives the product a purple color.
Venosal is recommended for the treatment of “rheumatism,” meaning, the context would indicate, infectious rheumatic fever. As colchicum has no special action on this disease and as there is no apparent reason for the employment of the trace of iron present, these additions in fixed proportions are unscientific, if not absurd. According to the advertising matter:
“Venosal ... ”

“ A reduction, as in this case, to the solitary simple pistillum [120] , though existing in all Gramineæ and in certain genera of several other families of Monocotyledones, is yet comparatively rare in that primary division of phænogamous plants, and in the great class Liliaceæ, the present species of Colchicum offers, I [243] believe, the only known example. ”

“ From this relation, it will not appear surprising that we find several instances recorded, in which the Colchicumproved a fatal poison both to man, and brute animals. Two boys, after eating this plant, which they found growing in a meadow, died in great agony. Violent symptoms have been produced by taking the flowers. The seeds, likewise, have been known to produce similar effects. ”

“ The younger Haden examined the stuff and came to the [186] conclusion that it was made from colchicum, with which he had some acquaintance through having made the oxymel. After many experiments he was convinced of the accuracy of his opinion. Soon after Mr. Haden left Derby and settled in Sloane Street, where he commenced the publication of the Medical Intelligencer, the predecessor of the Lancet. At the Brompton Dispensary he introduced colchicum in the treatment of gout. Dr. ”

“ Part II. By C. Babbage, Esq. 41 Experiments and Observations to prove that the beneficial Effects of many Medicines are produced through the Medium of the circulating Blood, more particularly that of the Colchicum autumnale upon the Gout. By Sir Everard Home, Bart. V.P.R.S. 41 An Appendix to a Paper on the Effects of the Colchicum autumnale on Gout. By Sir Everard Home, Bart. V.P.R.S. 42 On the Cutting Diamond. By William Hyde Wollaston, M.D. Sec. R.S. 43 An Account of the Discovery of a mass of native Iron in Brasil. By A. F. Mornay, Esq. ”

“ E.) From the decoction. This is the plan adopted at Apothecaries’ Hall, and in the laboratory generally. Many houses do not even remove the seeds.
Obs. This extract rapidly gets hard, crumbly, and mouldy by keeping. For the remedy, see observations on EXTRACT OF COLCHICUM693, above.—Dose, 5 gr. to 20 gr.; as a cathartic. Colocynth pulp yields above 65% of extract.
3. (Alcoholic; Extractum colocynthidis alcoholicum, L.) —a. (Ph. Baden.) As EXTRACT OF ANGELICA—Ph. Bad.)
b. (P. Cod.) From a tincture prepared with proof spirit. Much more active than the simple extract.—Dose, 2 to 7 gr. ”