VERATRINE. , ‘ 145 
Preparation of Veratrine. They repeatedly digested the seeds of the Ve. 
ratrum Sabadilla in boiling alcohol. These tinctures, filtrated whilst almost» 
boiling, deposited, on cooling, whitish flakes of wax. They re-digested the 
matter which remained dissolved, after evaporating it to the consistence of 
‘an extract, in cold water ; a small quantity of fatty matter now remained on 
the filter. The solution was slowly evaporated, and it formed an orange 
yellow precipitate, which possessed the characteristics of the colouring mat- 
tet found in almost all the woody vegetables. On adding a solution of ace- 
tate of lead to the liquor, which was still deeply coloured, a new and very 
abundant yellow precipitate was immediately formed, which was separated 
by means of the filter. The liquor, now nearly colourless, still contained, 
amongst other substances, the acetate of lead, which had been added in ex- 
cess; a current of hydrosulphuric acid was used to separate the lead. The 
liquor was then filtrated and concentrated by evaporation, treated by mag- 
nesia, and again filtrated. The magnesian precipitate was digested in boil- 
ing alcohol. The alcoholic liquors yielded, on evaporation, a pulverulent 
substance, which was extremely acrid, and possessed all the properties of the 
alkalies. This substance was at first yellowish; but by solutions in alcohol, 
‘and subsequent precipitations, caused by pouring water into the alcoholic 
solutions, it was obtained in the form of a very white and perfectly inodorous 
powder.* 
Chemical Properties of Veratrine. Veratrine is scarcely at all soluble in 
cold water; boiling water, however, dissolves one-thousandth part of its 
weight and becomes sensibly acrid. It is very soluble in ether, and still 
inore so in alcohol. It is insoluble in the alkalies, and soluble in all vege- 
table acids. It saturates all the acids, and forms with them incrystallizable 
salts, which, on evaporation, take the appearace of gum. The sulphate alone 
affords rudiments of crystals, when its acid is in excess. 
Nitric acid combines with Veratrine; butif added in excess, especially when 
concentrated, it does not produce superoxidation, as in the cases of morphine 
and strychnine ; but very rapidly resolves the vegetable substance into its 
% M.Meissner, who discovered the Veratrine nearly at the same time as MM. Pelle- 
tier and Caventou, recommends the seeds of the Ceradilla to be treated with undiluted 
aleohol, the alcoholic infusion to be evaporated, the residuum treated with water, the li- 
quor filtered, and the Veratrine to be precipitated by the carbonate of potass ; it then only 
remains to wash the precipitate with water.—Chimie Organique de Gmelin, p. 400. 
VoL.¥. U 
