176-3 
fact. From this time the chemistry of the plant became a great study by many, 
principally G. J. Scattergood (1862),* Chas. Bullock (1865+ and 1879),t Prof. 
G. B. Wood, E. Peugenet (1872), C. L. Mitchell (1874), Robbins (1877),§ and 
Wright and Luff (1879).|| The results of these studies show a similarity in this 
species to V. a/gum of Europe; tabulated from the observations of Wright and 
Luff, as follows. One kilogramme of the roots of each species yielded : 
VY. album. V. viride. 
Jervia, 1.30 0.20 
Pseudojervia, 0.40 0.15 
Rubijervia, 0.25 0.02 
Veratralbia, 2.20 traces 
Veratria, 0.05 0.004 
Cevadina, (?) 0.43 
4.20 0.804 
Jervia, C,,H,,NO,.—This amorphous alkaloid (the wvzdia of G. B. Wood) 
forms an almost insoluble sulphate, crystallizing with two molecules of water, 
melting at 239° (462.2°, F.), and giving with sulphuric acid almost the same 
coloration as the next. 
Pseudojervia, C,,H,,NO,—A snow-white base, crystallizing anhydrous from 
alcohol, melting at 299° (570.2°, F.), and giving a yellow solution with sulphuric 
acid, gradually turning green. 
Rubijervia, C,,H,,NO, —A base forming a readily-soluble sulphate and well- 
crystallized salts in general. It melts at 237° (458.6°, F.), and resembles in many 
ways the preceding; it, however, gives with sulphuric acid a red coloration. 
Veratralbia, C,,H,,NO,—This base gives a red coloration with sulphur‘c 
acid, and greatly resembles cevadina and the veratria of other authors. 
Cevadina, C,,H,,NO,—An amorphous mass, greatly resembling the vera- 
tralbia of 7. album, and termed the sternutatory property of V. viride. 
The above digest of Wright and Luff’s analysis is anything but satisfactory, 
and is open to much criticism as regards its solution of the problem still before us. 
The following latest analysis of the Veratrine of V. a/bum, by Dr. Emil Bossetti,] 
will serve to throw some light upon the complex nature of the principles of this 
genus. First: he claims that veratrine is a homogeneous mixture of two isomeric 
alkaloids; these he designates as insoluble 
Veratrine, C,,H,,NO,—A crystallizable alkaloid (the cevadina of Wright and 
Luff), insoluble in water, which decomposes on boiling with an alcoholic solution 
of barium hydrate,** into angelic acid, C,H,O,, and 
Cevadine, C,,H,,NO,—An amorphous, yellowish-white powder, having an 
alkaline reaction and a peculiar sweetish taste. 
The other isomer soluble veratrine, or 
¢ Am. Four. Phar., 1865, p. 321. { Ibid., 1879, p. 337- 
* Am. Phar. Assoc., Aug., 1862, p. 226. 
Four. and Trans., May 31, 1879. Arch. der Pharm., 21, p. 81. 
4 Am. Phar. Assoc., 1877, pp- 439 523- {I Phar. 
Veratrine. Water. Angelic Acid. Cevadine. — 
- bit CypH NO, + (HO), =C,H,O, + Cy HysNOy 
