VERATRINE. 
iris by this substance that almost all the individuals of the family of 
Veratrum exert their common action over the animal frame. For this dis- 
covery we are indebted to those indefatigable chemists, MM. Pelletier and 
Caventou, who, having observed that the whole tribe of plants belonging to 
this genus possess a very acrid taste, and produce similar effects, concluded 
that these properties depended upon a peculiar substance pervading them 
They first analysed the seeds of the Veratrum Sabadilla, which con- 
firmed their conjectures. ‘They isolated an acid alkaline principle, which 
they called Veratrine, from the name of the family to which it belonged. 
_ They ultimately discovered it in the root of the Colchicum autumnale, and in 
that of the white Helebore, (Veratrum album). The latter yielded to MM. 
Pelletier and Caventou—1, a fatty matter, composed of oil, adipocire, and an 
acid similar to the sevadic, but incrystallizable; 2, yellow extractive colour- 
ing matter ; 3, acid gallate of Veratrine ; 4, gum ; 5, fecula; 6, woody fibre— 
ashes containing carbonate of potass and lime, sulphate of lime and silica. 
The analysis of the Veratrum Sabadilla furnished the following constitu- 
ents :—1, a fatty compound, composed of oil, adipocire, and cevadic acid ; 2, 
wax ; 3, yellow extractive colouring matter; 4, Veratrine, forming with gal- 
lic acid an acid salt ; 5, gum: 6, woody fibre. The ashes, which were small 
in quantity, were almost wholly composed of the carbonate and phosphate 
of lime, with some traces Ao the hydrosulphate and carbonate of potass, and 
silica. 
The rootsof the Colchicum autumnale yield on analysis—1, a fatty matter, 
composed of oil, adipocire, and a volatile acid; 2, yellow extractive matter , 
8, acid gallate of Varatrine; 4, gum; 5, Soule: with Inuline and woody 
fibre. It yields very few ashes.* 
* Pelletier and Caventou. 
