BOTANIC MATERIA MEDICA, 271 
which is the raphe, running along to a central 
scar, which is the hilum or, more properly 
speaking, the umbilicus, which lies on the ven- 
tral side of the seed. Nux Vomica has little or 
no odor, but a persistent, bitter taste, and con- 
tains strychnine brucine, tgasurine, igasurtc actd,; 
also gum, sugar and fat in small quantity. 
Srtychnia and its compounds give a blue color 
when treated with potassium bichromate and acid 
sulphate. Sztrychnine and its compounds are 
intensely bitter, and crystallize in four-sided 
prisms, whilst Jdrucine occurs in octahedral 
prisms, and is colored red by nitric acid, chang- 
ing to orange; its compounds are intensely bit- 
ter, and poisonous also. The sulphate of strych- 
nine issoluble in distilled water, but the other 
compounds are only sparingly so; all are solu- 
ble in alcohol. 
Nux Vomica and its constituents are tonic 
and spinal nervines, but very poisonous in 
their effects, and are given in form of powder, 
extract, and tincture, also in the alkaloid form 
of strychnine. Dose of the powder 2 to 3 grains; 
of the extract and abstract, 1 or 2 grains; of the 
tincture and fluid extract, 3 to 5 drops; of the 
strychnia, from 1, to ;4, of a grain. All parts 
of the plant are said to contain strychnine, but 
it is asserted that birds eat the pulp of the fruit 
with impunity. Nux Vomica was used as a 
medicine in the sixteenth century, but was em- 
ployed for the poisoning of dogs and cats in Eng- 
land before that time, hence the name of dog- 
button. The origin of the word seems to be 
obscure, but the Arabians speak of the khaunk- 
al-kulb, or dog-killer. 
