287 SCHCENOCAULON OFFICINALE 



may be obtained from more than one plant. The dried fruit was 

 formerly alone imported from Vera Cruz, being the produce of 

 plants cultivated in Mexico ; but of late years, as stated by Ernst, 

 the seeds are now alone shipped in large quantities from La 

 Guayra, the port of Caracas. 



Each fruit, as found in commerce, is about half an inch long, 

 and is surrounded at its base by the remains of the perianth, and 

 attached to a short stalk ; it consists of three light brown, oblong, 

 pointed carpels (follicles), of a papery texture. The carpels are 

 united at their base, but separated above, and open on their inner 

 or ventral suture. Each carpel contains from one to three or 

 more seeds, usually two, which are about -^ of an inch in length, 

 narrow, pointed, somewhat scimitar-shaped and winged, shining, 

 corrugated, of a blackish-brown colour, an acrid bitter taste, and 

 without odour, but when powdered producing violent sneezing. 

 In commercial specimens the carpels are frequently found without 

 any contained seeds, these having fallen out, and may be seen 

 lying in a loose state mixed with the empty carpels. 



Cevadilla owes its properties essentially to the alkaloid veratria, 

 but it is still doubtful whether this alkaloid is confined to the 

 seeds, or whether it is likewise contained in the pericarp. Veratria 

 is said to be combined with gallic acid. As seen in commerce, 

 and used in medicine, veratria is always in an amorphous powder, 

 but when pure it is in long acicular crystals. Veratria in a 

 pure state is nearly insoluble in water, but readily soluble in 

 alcohol, ether, and chloroform. It has no odour, but if inhaled 

 it produces violent sneezing ; its taste is persistently and strongly 

 bitter, and highly acrid. 



Two other alkaloids have been also discovered in Sabadilla, one 

 crystallizable and called sabadilline, and the other uncrystallizable, 

 and to which the name of sabatrine has been given. The former 

 is always present in commercial veratria ; it may be distinguished 

 from it by being insoluble in ether, and by not causing sneezing. 

 Sabatrine is also said to be contained in the veratria of commerce. 



Medical Properties and Uses. Cevadilla can scarcely be said to 

 be in use at the present time in itself as a medicinal agent, although 



