What was the old colonel was purple with?

It seems like there might be a typo or missing context in your question. However, if you are referring to a character named "the old colonel" turning purple, it could be a sign of cyanosis, a bluish discoloration of the skin due to poor oxygenation. This could be caused by various medical conditions such as heart or lung problems. It would be important for the old colonel to seek medical attention if he is turning purple.