Pelletier and Caventou on Strychnine. 217 
IV. Organic Comrounps. 
New Researches on Strychnine, and on the Processes employed 
Jor its Extraction. By MM. Pelletier and Caventou*. 
Twelve pounds of grated aux vomica were exhausted by 
alcohol, and the tinctures were evaporated on a water-bath. 
The alcoholic extract acted on by water, left a notable quantity 
ofa fatty matter. The filtered liquid was separated into 3 por- 
tions, of which the first represented 6 pounds of nux vomica, 
and each of the other two 3 pounds. These 3 portions were 
treated by a different method, the first of which may be called 
the process by magnesia; the second, the process by lead and 
sulphuric acid ; the third, the process by lead and sulphuretted 
hydrogen. We shall describe them in succession. 
Ist. Process by Magnesia.—The liquor corresponding to six 
pounds of nux vomica was reduced to one-half by evaporation; 
three ounces of calcined magnesia were added to it, and, after 
some minutes of ebullition, it was filtered. The waters of fil- 
tration were left to themselves; we shall have occasion to re- 
turn to them. The magnesian precipitate of a greenish-yellow 
colour was washed with only two waters on the filter itself, then 
dried atastove In this state it was treated with alcohol at 38° 
(0.827,) inthe cucurbit of an alembic; the alcoholic liquors 
proceeding from the exhaustion of the magnesian precipitate 
were filtered and evaporated to the consistence of a thick 
magma, which passed after some hours into a granular mass. 
The matter thrown ona filter was washed with a little very cold 
sulphuretted alcohol. Thus two drams and twelve grains of 
pretty fine strychnine were obtained. The mother-waters and 
alcoholic washings were set aside; we shall point out, further 
on, a method of extracting from them still a little strychnine. 
The mother-waters of the magnesian precipitate, which were 
left to themselves, afforded, at the end of some days, crystals 
of a yellowish white, amounting to 80 grains. These crystals 
were strychnine, nearly pure. The same waters ought appa- 
rently to have furnished still more crystals. The method just 
described is very simple. The important point is the evapora- 
tion of the alcoholic digestions of the magnesian precipitate ; 
this operation must be regulated so as to obtain the above mag- 
ma, to let it granulate before washing it, and to employ for this 
edulcoration, very cold alcohol, at 22° (0.915.) Weaker spirits 
would not dissolve the colouring matter ; stronger would carry 
off too much strychnine. 
2. Process by lead and sulphuric Acid.—To a quantity of li- 
quid, arising from the aqueous digestion of the alcoholic extract 
of nux vomica, and representing three pounds of this seed, sub- 
* Journal de Pharmacie. Juillet, 1822. 
