GENERAL MALADlES.—In dropsies— the anasarca of the aged, hydrocephalus, hydrothorax, anasarca following fevers, etc.—colchicum is often very efficacious, especially in combination with other diuretics and a diuretic alkali. It is one of the most satisfactory remedies in chronic and obstinate constipation, but the dose should be small, as the object is attained rather by gradual insinuation than by forcible impression. In gonor rhcea and other inflammatory discharges from the genito-urinary organs, in both sexes, in strangury, ardor urime, and irritable states of the bladder, it has been employed with great success. At one time it was held to be the most effi cient agent known to therapeutics in re moving tape-worm. In jaundice and chronic hepatitis it has a value, but re quires to be combined with soap, alkalies, or mild mercurials.
Spasmodic attempts have been made toward popularizing the alkaloid col chicine, but with little success; it does not sufficiently represent the virtues of colchicum. It has found its best applica tion in the treatment of rheumatic iritis, and its value here is greatly enhanced by combining with methyl-salicylate. It has
also been employed subcutaneously in chronic rheumatism and neuralgic joint affections.
A valuable remedy, and in conjunction with small doses of calomel may be pre scribed w MI advantage for gouty people who have liad no acute manifestation of the disease, but who suffer more or less continuously from joint-pain. A pill may be taken at bed-time, or three times a day after nieals, composed of: 14, grain of colchicine, 'A grain of calomel, and 1 grain of solid extract of henbane. In gouty neuritis a pill three times daily—of colchieine, 1/„ quinine and extract of coloeynth, of each, 1 grain— is recommended. Murrell ("Manual of Mat. Mcd. and Then," '96).
For hypodermic use the alkaloid may be dissolved in distilled water in the pro portion of 1 to 560 minims, the dose being 15 minims; but the injection causes sharp burning pain. When deep, intramuscular injections have been triel in sciatica, the results have been un fortunate and unprofitable.