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StrycImill=C42 H22 ]Sr2 O4+2 HO. In various species of 

 the genus Stiychnos, for instance in the seeds and bai'k of Str, 

 Nux vomica, in the seeds of Str. Ignatia, in tlie wood of Str. coki- 

 brina, in the root of Str. Tieute, therefore also in the ari-ow-poison, 

 prepared fi-om siich like plants, associated with brucin. For its pre- 

 })aration preferably the seeds of Sti'. Nux vomica are used. Digest 

 them in the rasped state with three changes of alcohol of 40%; distil 

 the alcohol from the liquids, ])ui-ified hy straining, pressing and 

 subsiding, evaporate the remaining liquid, until its weight be 

 equal to that of the seeds employed, pi-ecipitate with acetate of 

 lead, filter, digest the filtrate cold with burnt magnesia for several 

 days, collect the sediment, wash, diy, triturate and digest warm 

 with alcohol of 80%. Distil the tincture to a small volume, let 

 I'est cold, collect the crystals of Strychnin, wash with weak alcohol 

 and recrystallise in hot alcohol of 80% (the mother-ley separated 

 from the previously formed Strychnin, may be used for the 

 ) »reparation of brucin). — The Strychnin crystallises in white, 

 fpiadrangular, aciiminated prisms, is inodorous, of an insufferably 

 bitter taste, undergoes no alteration in a gentle heat, fuses with 

 niore heat to a pale-yellow liquid and decomposes afterwards; 

 dissolves in about 6000 parts water, in 120 parts cold and in 10 

 pai'ts boiling alcohol of 80%, to solutions of a slightly alkaline 

 reaction; is not soluble in ether and in alkalies; dissolves incom- 

 jiletely in chlorine water, producing by addition of ammonia 

 \'oluminous white flocks, which change soon to rose-red; dissolves 

 I'eadily in concentrated sulphiuic acid withoiit colouration, the 

 solution assuming a piu-ple-violet hue on addition of a few particles 

 of Chromate of potash or of feri'icyanide of potassium ; nitric acid, 

 when cold, dissolves the Str. colourless, the solution turning 

 greenish-yellow on heating, and assimiing a milky appearance 

 with subchloride of tin. 



[Strychnin, when mixed with concenti'ated suljihuiic acid, 

 assumes on addition of oxyd of cerium a beautiful blue colour, 

 slowly changing to purple, and lasting several days. A very deli- 

 cate test.] 



Styracill=C36 Hie 0^, or Cinnamate of Cinnamyl=:Ci8 Hg O 

 + Ci8 Hy O3. Crystalline substance of liquid storax (from 

 Liquidambar orientalis), and probably also of balsam of Peru 

 (from Myroxylon Pereirre). Treat liquid storax with 5 to 6 parts 

 diluted soda-ley at a temperature not above 30°, until the remnant 

 has become colourless, wash, dry, dissolve in ether-alcohol, and 

 allow to crystallise. — -Crystallises in colourless prisms and needles, 

 inodorous, tasteless, fuses at 44°, is not volatile, insoluble in water, 

 little soluble in cold alcohol, in 3 parts ether, yields on heating 

 with chz'omate of potash and sulphuric acid, oil of bitter almonds, 

 benzoic acid, and a resin. 



p 



