Page:Proceedings of the Royal Society of London Vol 2.djvu/73

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The Eau medicinale of Husson, says the author, has most fortunately been discovered to be a specific remedy for the cure of gout; and he considers it to be now ascertained, by experiments of different persons, that this medicine is a vinous infusion of the Colchicum autumnale, or Meadow Saffron. He therefore hoped that an endeavour to ascertain its mode of action would be interesting to the Society for the Promotion of Animal Chemistry, whose objects are not confined to mere chemical combinations, but include the effects of galvanism on the nerves, and of mineral and vegetable solutions on the blood, and thereby on the healthy and morbid actions of life.

Although the late Mr. Hunter had ascertained, by experiments, that medicines injected directly into the circulating system produce in general the same effects as when taken into the stomach, he was not aware that even in the latter case (as has been proved by later experiments) these effects are not produced till they have reached the circulation by means of the absorbent system.

With respect to mercury, which appears to be the only specific hitherto known for any disease, it is completely established (says the author), by experiment, that this remedy, when in the circulation, is as effectual for the cure of recent chancre from the original application of venereal matter, as for constitutional symptoms in consequence of its absorption into the circulation.

It is observed, that the effect of Colchicum autumnale on gout is more rapid than that of mercury on the venereal disease, which admits of explanation, upon the supposition, that one is more rapidly received into the circulation than the other. With respect to the powers of this drug, the author speaks from experiments on his own person, having himself taken it at least six different times, for relief from local symptoms of gout, which it has removed, once in six hours, and at others in less than twenty-four hours.

With a view to ascertain the effects of this medicine introduced directly into the circulation, he substituted a dog as the subject of experiment. This dog's pulse in a natural state was 140 in a minute. In five minutes after injection of thirty drops of a vinous infusion of colchicum, diluted with a drachm of water, into the jugular vein, the pulse became fluttering, accompanied with a tremulous motion of the muscles, and nausea, but without retching to vomit. In less than a quarter of an hour the pulse intermitted, and was 180 in a