VERATRINE. <J8 1 



usual by animal charcoal, and dissolved in water, the bases may 

 be precipitated by ammonia. 



Strychnine or strychnia, C^I^^C^ ; as obtained from the 

 evaporation of its alcoholic solution it assumes the form of 

 minute colourless octohedrons, composed of two four-sided 

 pyramids, between which a four-sided prism is sometimes 

 interposed. It is soluble in 2500 parts of boiling and in 6667 

 parts of cold water; but the last solution, weak as it is, has 

 an intensely bitter taste. It is insoluble in absolute alcohol 

 and ether, but sensibly soluble in aqueous alcohol ; not fusible. 

 Strychnine acts with great energy on the animal economy, 

 inducing tetanus. Its poisonous action is best counteracted by 

 an infusion of gallnuts or warm tea. The salts of strychnine 

 are generally crystallizable. 



Brucine, C 44 H 25 N 2 O 7 . This alkali was first discovered in 1819 

 by Pelletier and Caventou in the bark of Brucia antidy sent erica. 

 Brucine^greatly resembles strychnine in its properties, acts in 

 the same way on the animal economy but is much less poi- 

 sonous. It is more soluble in water, and is strongly reddened 

 by nitric acid, while pure strychnine is not. 



VERATRINE, 



This alkali is found in the seeds of different species of Vera- 

 trum, particularly of Veratrum album or white hellebore, and 

 Veratrum sabadilla, in which it exists combined with veratric 

 acid, (page 955). It is extracted by a process similar to that 

 for strychnine. Veratrine has the aspect of a resin, is friable and 

 gives a white powder ; it cannot be crystallized. It is nearly 

 insoluble in water, but dissolves in alcohol and ether. Its taste 

 is excessively acrid and not bitter; with sulphuric acid it 

 becomes yellow, red, and at last violet. Veratrine occasions 

 violent irritation in any mucous membrane to which it is 

 applied, and is highly poisonous. Few of its salts except the 

 hydrochlorate and sulphate are crystallizable; they are not 

 precipitated by bichloride of platinum. 







Sabadilline is a crystallizable base which accompanies vera- 

 trine in the seeds of Veratrum sabadilla. Jervine is another 

 base found in the root of Veratrum album. 



