CONIUM 403 



CONIUM. Conium. 



Synonym. — Conii folia, B. P.; hemlock fruit, E.; fruits 

 de grande cipjue, Fr.; schierliugsfriiclite, G. 



The full grown fruit of Conium maculatum Linne (nat. 

 ord. umbelliferse), gathered while yet green. 



Habitat. — Indigenous to Europe and Asia, but natura- 

 lized in the United States. 



Description. — About 3 mm. long; broadly ovate; later- 

 ally compressed; grayish-green; often divided into the two 

 mericaips, each with five crenate ribs, without oil-tubes, and 

 contMiiiiug a seed which is grooved on the face ; odor and 

 taste slight. When triturated with a solution of potassium 

 or sodium hydrate, conium gives off a strong, disagreeable, 

 mouse-like odor. Conium fruit resembles carraway and 

 anise seed, but these have oil-tubes or vittae. 



Constituents. — There are two essential principles in 

 conium : conine, or coniine, and methyl-coniine. 



1. Conine, Cg Hi^ N, is a yellowish, oily, volatile liquid 

 alkaloid, of an odor resembling that of mouse urine, and 

 acrid taste. It is freely soluble in alcohol and ether, and 

 is soluble in 100 parts of water, with which it forms a 

 hydrate. It undergoes decomposition when exposed to air 

 and heat, and becomes first brown and then resin-like. For 

 this reason the alkaloid is uncertain in its physiological 

 action, but its salts (the hydrobromate and acetate) are 

 more stable and reliable. Conine may be obtained by dis- 

 tillation of the fruit with an alkaline water. 



2. Methyl-coniine, Cg H^g C N, is a colorless liquid. 



3. There is also a nearly inert and crystalline alkaloid, 

 conhydrine. 



Incompatihility. — "Vegetable acids, caustic alkalies and 

 astringents are incompatible with conium. 



Conium Dose.— R. & C, 3i.-ii. (4.-8.); Sh. & Sw., gr.x.- 

 XX. (.6-1.3); D., gr.ii.-v. (.12-.3). 



Conince Hydrohromas. — H. & C, gr.|-l^ (.04:5-.l); Sh. 

 <fe Sw., gr.H (.012-.024); D., gr.^-^ (.001-.002). 



Dissolved in alcohol. 



