276 A COMPENDIUM OF 
Sabadilla, Cevadilla, Asagre Officinalis.— 
Natural order Melanthaceze. Native of Vene- 
zuela and Mexico. This bulbous plant attainsa 
height of 5 or 6 feet, adorned with grass-like, 
tapering leaves, which are 3 to 4 feet long, and 
arise from the root of the plant. The scape 
(stem) is smooth and erect, bearing a dense, 
long raceme of light yellow flowers, from 12 
to 18 inches in length. Stamens numerous; 
stigma obscure, and 3 simple ovaries. 
Fruit, a follicle, about % inch (12 millimeters) 
long, and containing from 1 to 3 seeds, some- 
what curved and winged in shape, of a dark 
brown color and shining; testa fairly delicate 
in texture and rugosely wrinkled. The albu- 
minoid matter of a creamy, white embryo, some- 
what lance-shaped and very small. Odor, little 
or none; taste bitter and intensely acrid. The 
cevadilla contains cevadine, cevadilline, cevedic 
and veratric acids, veratine, a fixed oil, sabadine 
sabadinine and angelic acid. The seeds have 
long been in use for the destruction of vermin 
and for the preparation of the alkaloid, veratrina, 
of the stores, which latter constituent is found 
in the form of a creamy, white powder, but is 
said to be capable of crystallizing. Dose of 
of veratrina, 1-30 to 1-16 of a grain. It is a 
powerful irritant and poison, and used in form 
of an ointment. The name is from the Spanish 
word cebada, barley, so called from the resem- 
blance of its frowning spike to barley. 
Sinapis Alba, White Mustard.—Natural order 
Cruciferz Siliquose. Native of Asia and south- 
ern Europe and cultivated in many of the sub- 
tropical countries of the world. “This annual 
