Colchicum is more or less applicable in the gouty forms of Rheumatism, in Lithiasis, and in acid dyspepsia, but it is most efficient in the simple gouty paroxysm. There are several objections to the indiscriminate use of this remedy. Some have observed that though it cures for a time the gouty attack, it causes the next assault of the disease to recur more quickly than it would otherwise have done. The dose also certainly requires to be considerably increased on each successive occasion. Sometimes this medicine produces a great depression of the spirits. Dr. Todd believes that Colchicum has often a tendency to change the common acute form of Gout into an asthenic form which is less amenable to treatment. So that, altogether, it is perhaps a good rule to treat the patient without Colchicum as long as it can be done with safety, adopting this medicine only as a last resource, when other remedies have been tried and failed. It ought rarely to be used in Rheumatism. In the asthenic form of Gout, or in old chronic cases, when there are chalk-stones on the knuckles, Quinine, Stimulants, and Purgatives, constitute the best treatment. Alkalies and Mercurials may prove serviceable in acute cases. But it is certain that in many cases of this painful disorder Colchicum gives immense relief; and it often seems to be the only medicine that is capable of doing so. (_Vide_ pp. 194, 247.) ARSENIC. Class I. Div. II. Ord. VI. ANTIPHRIODICA. Class I. Div. II. Ord. VII. ANTICONVULSIVA. Class I. Div. II. Ord. VIII. ANTISQUAMOSA. This medicine has already been noticed at considerable length in the account of the last three orders of Catalytic medicines. It is again noticed here as one of the most remarkable of those mineral substances that are used to counteract blood-disorders. It appears to be capable of exerting no less than three kinds of action in the blood, which operations result in the counteraction of Periodic disorders, Convulsive diseases, and certain Cutaneous eruptions. That must of necessity be a various and obscure agency, which is gifted with the power of arresting and controlling so great a variety of morbid actions.