Translation of the Pharmacopoeia of the Royal College of Physicians, of London, 1851 : with notes and illustrations / by Richard Phillips.

  • Royal College of Physicians, London
Date:
1851
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Translation of the Pharmacopoeia of the Royal College of Physicians, of London, 1851 : with notes and illustrations / by Richard Phillips. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    woody fibre. The dried cormus is often worthless from bad drying or gathering at improper seasons. When good the slices are firin, and notched ouly on one side. Itis poisonous. The active prin- ciple of nieadow salfron appears to reside in a vegetable alkali, to which Hesse and Geiger, who have examined its properties, ha ve given the narne of Colchicia. Colcliicia is prepared by digestingthe seed of nieadow saffron in boiling alcohol, which dissolves an acid salt; this is to be preci- pitated by niagnesia, and what is thrown down again treated with boiling alcohol, which by evaporation deposits colchicia. In this process the niagnesia combines with the acid previously united with the colchicia, which is precipitated with the excess of niag- nesia and dissolved in an unconibined state by the second portion of alcohol. Colchicia crystallizes in slender needles ; it is in- odorous, its taste is first bitter and afterwards biting, but not so acrid as veratria, froni which it also differs in not exciting sneezing, and in being soluble in water. Hy drate of colchicia is feebly alkaline to tests, it conipletely neutralizes acids and forms crystallizable salts with theni, which veratria does not. Its salts have a bitter taste. The aqueous solution of this alkali precipitates a solution of chloride of platinuni. Nitric acid turns it deep violet, blue, and afterwards quickly green and yellow. It has not been analysed. Incompatihles.—Alkalis, their carbonates, the alkaline earths and their carbonates, or any substances on which vinegar is ca- pable of exerting any action. Medicinal Use.—Diuretic. Dose, f5ss to f5ij in any bland fluid. It is emjDloyed in gout and rheuiiiatisin. ACETUM SCILLiE. Vinegar of Squill. Acetum Scilliticum, P.L. 1721, P.L. 1746. Acetum Scilla, P.L. 1788, P.L. 1809, P.L. 1824, P.L. 1836. Take of Squill, recently dried and bruised, two ounces and a half, Diluted Aeetie Aeid a pint, Proof Spirit a fluidounee and a half; Maeerate the Squill with the Aeid with a gentle heat in a elosed vessel, for three days; then press out [the liquor] and set it by, that the dregs may subside; lastly, add the Spirit to the strained liquor.
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