446 BASES OF THE VERATRUM SPECIES. 



fascicular needles. But slightly soluble in cold water 

 and alcohol, more easily soluble in hot water. 



Strychnine dissolves in concentrated sulphuric acid, 

 forming a colorless liquid, which becomes a beautiful 

 violet, when a few small pieces of potassium bichrom- 

 ate are added. 



2. Brucine, C 23 H 26 K 2 4 + 4H 2 0. Crystalline laminse 

 or large colorless prisms, which effloresce in the air. 

 Very similar to strychnine, but more easily soluble in 

 water, and particularly in alcohol; and less poisonous. 

 Concentrated nitric acid colors it red ; on heating, yel- 

 low : and if tin chloride or ammonium sulphide is 

 added, the yellow color is converted into a very in- 

 tense violet. Concentrated sulphuric acid dissolves it, 

 the solution having a pale red color, which soon passes 

 into yellowish-green. 



7. Bases of the Veratrum Species. 



In the different species of Veratrum are contained 

 two alkaloids : 



Yeratrine, C 32 H 52 F 2 8 , 

 and Jervine, C 30 H 46 K 2 3 . 



Veratrine occurs chiefly in sabadilla seeds (of Vera- 

 trum sabadilla), together with veratric acid (p. 359) ; 

 and in the root of Veratrum album; jervine occurs only 

 in the latter. 



Preparation. In a manner similar to that described 

 in connection with the preceding bases. They can be 

 easily separated from each other by treatment with 

 dilute sulphuric acid, which readily dissolves the vera- 

 trine, but converts the jervine into a very difficultly 

 soluble sulphate. 



1. Veratrine, C 32 H 5 W 2 8 . White powder or color- 

 less prisms, becoming untransparent in the air ; fuses at 

 115, and solidifies, forming a resin-like mass. Scarcely 

 soluble in water, easily soluble in alcohol and ether. 

 Very poisonous ; it causes violent sneezing, when in- 



