Pharmacology : action and uses of drugs / by Maurice Vejux Tyrode.

  • Tyrode, Maurice Vejux, 1878-
Date:
1912
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Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Pharmacology : action and uses of drugs / by Maurice Vejux Tyrode. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by the Francis A. Countway Library of Medicine, through the Medical Heritage Library. The original may be consulted at the Francis A. Countway Library of Medicine, Harvard Medical School.

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    Colchicine is changed in the bodies of warm-blooded animals to dioxycolchicine. Such a change does not take place in the cold-blooded. Since colchicine acts but slowly in warm-blooded animals, and almost not at all in the cold-blooded, unless it has been previously oxidized, it is believed that the action of colchicine is due to its oxidation product. COLCHICEINE also present in colchicum has the same action as colchicine, but in a milder degree. SUMMARY OF GROUP ACTIO'N.—Intense irritation of the gastro-intestinal tract and kidneys. At first, very little effect upon the central nervous system and heart, hut later, death from paralysis of respiration. In animals, decrease in cutaneous sensation not due to paralysis of peripheral nerve endings. In frogs, veratrine action on heart and skeletal muscles. THERAPEUTIC APPLICATION.—The first use of colchicum in therapeutics was as a diuretic in dropsical conditions; then this appHcation was laid aside and it was given chiefly in gouty and rheumatic affections, but of late it has not been so popular be- cause of its frequent failure to cure and also because if often occasions very troublesome inflammations of the gastro-intestinal tract. It is possible that colchicum improves some cases of gout by its analgesic power, or it may be that the good effects sometimes observed come from some influence on the general metabolism. MATERIA MEDICA. Colchici Connus (U.S.P.) and Colchici Semen (U.S.P.,B.P.), the root and seeds of Colchicum Autumnale or meadow saffron, a plant growing in Europe and North Africa. It contains two active bodies, colchicin and colchiceine. Vinum Colchici (U.S.P.,B.P.). Dose:—0.5-2.0. Br. (10-30 ttj^). Aver- age (U.S.P.), 2.0 c.c. Colchicina (U.S.P.) is an amorphous, white or yellow nitrogenous body ■with an acid reaction, which crystalUzes out of chloroform with two mole- cules of the latter. It is the methyl ester of colchiceine and is soluble in alcohol and water. Dose:—^Average (U.S.P.), 0.0005 G. GROUP OF EMETINE AND APOMORPHINE. We include in this group different substances which are used in practical medicine, in large doses, to induce vomiting or in