142 NUX VOMICA. 
ing acidulated drinks, as Strychnine, united with acids, forms soluble salts, 
which are more active than Strychnine itself. 
The preparations of Brucine are similar to those of Strychnine : but as 
the former is more powerful than the latter, the preparations of Brucine 
may be exhibited in larger doses. 
ATROPINE. 
THIS substance was discovered by Brande, in the Atropa Belladonna, 
and it is in this peculiar substance, that he considers the medicinal and 
deleterious properties of the Belladonna to reside.* To obtain this principle, 
M. Brande boiled two pounds of the dried leaves of the Atropa Belludonna 
in a sufficient quantity of water, pressed out the decoction, and boiled the 
leaves again in some more water. The decoctions were mixed, and some 
sulphuric acid was added in order to throw down the albumen and similar 
bodies: the solution was thus rendered thinner, and passed more readily 
through the filter. The decoction was then supersaturated with potass; by 
which he obtained a precipitate, weighing, after having been washed with 
pure water, and dried, 89 grains. It consisted of small crystals, from which, 
by solution in acids, and precipitation by alkalies, Atropine was obtained in 
a state of purity.t Or Atropine may be obtained by digesting the decoction 
ef the herb of the Atropa Belladonna with magnesia; boiling the precipitate 
in alcohol, and filtering: the Atropine OS heres on cooling, in needles 0 or 
colourless transparent prisms.{ 
* The Atropa Belladonna, on analysis, yielded the following constituents :—Wax 
0,7; resinous chlorophylle 5,84; acid malate of atropine 1,51; gum 8,03; fecula 1,25; 
woody fibre 13,7; phyteumacolle 6,9; a matter analogous to osmazome, with malate of 
atropine, oxalate, hydrochlorate, and sulphate of potass, 16,05; soluble albumen 4,7; 
hard albumen 6; ammoniacal salts and acetates, malate of atropine, oxalate, malate sul- 
phate, hydrochlorate, and nitrate of potass; oxalate malate (?) and phosphate of lime, 
and malate and phosphate of magnesia 7,47; water 25,8; loss 2,05. The ashes contain 
oxide of copper.—Brande and Vauquelin. 
Ure’s Chemical Dictionary, Art. Atr 
{ Chimie Organique, par Léopold Gmelin, édition de Virey, p. 398. 
