PREPARATION OF VERATRIA. AEE 
as any precipitate is formed. The precipitate is next to be washed 
with cold water, and dissolved in alcohol, and the tincture evaporated 
to the consistence of an extract. 2 | 
_ By treating this extract with boiling water, the Sabadilline and 
Mono-hydrate of Sabadilline are taken up, and the other two _ prin- 
ciples left undissolved. The solution, on cooling, deposits the Sa- 
badilline in crystals, and the Mono-hydrate is obtained by slowly 
evaporating the remaining liquid in vacuo. The portion of the 
extract left undissolved by the water, is next treated with ether, 
which takes up the pure Veratrine, and leaves the Veratrin. 
The Veratria of commerce is then a very complicated substance ; 
but as it is the only form which has yet been introduced into medi- 
cine, the remarks which are to follow are applicable, at least so far 
as we yet know, to it alone. Itis prepared in the form of a fine 
subtile powder, varying in colour from light brown to nearly white’; 
it is very sparingly soluble in water, but sufficiently so to communi- 
cate a sensibly acrid taste to the fluid. It is very soluble in alcohol 
and ether. It is insoluble in alcalis, but combines readily with acids, 
and forms incrystallizable salts. It restores the blue colour of litmus 
paper, reddened by acid. When heated, it melts, and has the ap-+ 
pearance of wax; and on cooling, presents a mass of a brownish 
transparent appearance. 
It is destitute of smell, but when brought in contact with the mu- 
cous membrane of the nose, it occasions violent sneezing ; when 
applied to the conjunctiva, it excites considerable irritation, and 
causes an abundant flow of tears. Its taste is extremely acrid, but 
destitute of bitterness. : 3 
According to the experiments of MM. Magendie and Andral, 
Veratria acts on animalsas a powerful irritant, occasioning rapid in- 
flammation in the lining membranes of the cavities into which it is in-. 
troduced ; ending in tetanus and death.* There is some discrepancy, 
however, betwixt its effects upon the intestinal canal, as observed 
by M. Magendie, and those that have come under the author’s ob- 
servation, and which shall now be noticed. 
Internal Administration of Veratria and its Salts. 
The acknowledged value of colchicum autumnale in the treat~ 
ment of a variety of diseases, appears to have given rise to consi- 
derable expectations that the discovery of the active principle of the 
plant would be of great advantage to medicine ; and accordingly 
we find, that no sooner had MM. Pelletier and Caventou succeed- 
ed in obtaining Veratria, than a number of experiments were in- 
stituted, with a view to determine its action upon the animal econo- 
my. These were principally conducted by MM. Andral and Ma- 
gendie, and agreed in proving it to be possessed of most energetie 
properties, and similar, though in a more exalted degree, to those 
* Magendie, Journal de Physiologie, tom. 1.—Formulaire. 
