- PREPARATION OF DELPHINIA. 49 
~The Delphinium Staphisagria,and its active principle Delphinia, 
are the next substances possessed of properties similar to those of 
Veratria, of which J shall give an account. The seeds of the plant 
are the part used in medicine ; they are of the size of small peas, 
triangular, and sometimes four sided; they are rough, wrinkled, and 
slightly curved, dark coloured. externally, and yellowish white 
within; their smell is disagreeable, and their taste bitter, acrid, and 
burning. | | 
Stavesacre seeds in some quantity, act upon animals.as an acrid 
irritating poison ; their effects are chiefly confined to the mucous 
membrane of the stomach, in which they sometimes excite inflam- 
mation ; but the nervous system appears to suffer most, especially if 
death come on soon after the poison has been administered. In the 
human subject, when taken internally, they excite vomiting and pur- 
ging, and act also as general irritants and sialogogues. 
Stavesacre was at one time employed as a cathartic and anthel- 
mintic, but is now laid aside, on account of the violence of its effects. 
It is still, however, used externally in infusion for the treatment of 
skin diseases, particularly scabies, and, in powder or ointment for 
destroying pediculi. Inthe form of a concentrated tincture, I have 
employed it as anembrocation in the treatmentof rheumatic affections, 
with considerable advantage. It causes sensations of heat and ting- 
ling, very similar to thosearising from the useof Veratria, and should 
be rubbed until these effects show themselves. } 
Preparation of Delphinia. 
Dex.rutnra was discovered in the seeds of the Delphinzaum Sta- 
phisagria, by MM. Lassaigne and Feneulle, in the year 1819.* It 
‘may be obtained by several processes, but thatrecently given by M. 
Couerbe appears to afford the purest result. It is as follows. A 
saturated tincture of Stavesacre seeds is to be evaporated to the 
consistence of a thin extract, and treated with water, acidulated by 
sulphuric acid : this solution, when filtered, is to be precipitated by 
‘ammonia. The precipitate, after being freed from its water; is to be 
taken up with alcohol, and again reduced to the consistence of extract, 
which is likewise to be dissolved in acidulated water ; to this solu- 
tion, when filtered, a small quantity of nitric acid is to be added, as 
long as any precipitate falls: the liquid freed from this precipitate is 
again to be thrown down by ammonia, and the powder dried. This 
is the Delphine of Commerce ; but, like Veratria, it isa compound 
substance, and consists of resinous matter, Staphisaire, and Del- 
phine: the Delphine is separated by treating the powder with ether, 
which takes it up and leaves the Sfaphisaire. 
When ina state of purity, Delphinia is white, pulverulent, and 
without smell; but, like Veratria, when applied to the mucous 
membrane of the nose, it occasions sneezing, along with an abun- 
* Annales de Chimie, tom. Xi. XI. » 
5* 
