I/XiANIACET^C. 



181 



Brucine differs little in composition 

 its poisouous ijualitit'S. These two sul 



troiii stryclmiiie, but is not so active in 

 stances in combination form one of the 

 most active poisons known. Strychnine is intensely bitter; one grain gives to 

 110 gallons of water a jierceptible bitter taste. It requires 2,000 parts of 

 boilin"- water to dissolve it ; but alcohol suspends it more readily, and it is 

 very soluble in chloroform. 



2. S. Ignatii, Herg. The seeds of this species are said to be far richer in the 

 yield of strychnine than the nux vomica. The tree is native in the Philippine 

 Islands. The seeds are known in commerce as the beans of St. Ignatius. 

 They were brought to the notice of Ray, the English botanist, in 1699, by a 

 Jesuit, who obtained them through missionaries. 



3. S. colubrina (Snakewood), L., yields strychnine from the wood of the 

 root. 



4. S. tieute. Lech, yields it from the bark of che root. 



5. S. potatorum, L. (Clearing Nut.) Like the nux vomica, but a larger 

 tree; fruit similar iu form, but does not possess the same poisonous qualities. 

 Found iu the mountains of East Indies. 



The pulp is eaten by the natives, and the 

 seeds are used to purify water. One of the 

 seeds is rubbed smartly upon the sides of a 

 water vessel, which is then filled with water, 

 that in a very short time becomes clear and 

 pure ; the effect of the seed is to ])recipi- 

 tate not only suspended vegetable matter, 

 but impurities of every sort. This effect 

 is attributed to some albuminoid property 

 of the seed. 



When the fruit is ripe it is attacked by 

 birds and climbing animals: they eat the 

 rind, and throw down the pulp and seeds. 

 The seeds are collected, washed, and sold 

 to country merchants for a quarter of a 

 cent a pound. 



6. S. toxifsra. Hth., found in the silvas 

 of the Amazon and Oronoco, furnislios the 

 celebrated poison, curari, with which the 

 natives prepare their arrows for battle. 

 The poison resides in a resin found in the 



bark of the tree, and is separated by maceration in wau-r. The substance 

 is harmless when taken into the stomadi, but fatal when introduced into the 

 blood. Tlie preparation for the poisoned arrows is a mixture of the product 

 of several different species, but the mode of preparation is a secret. 



(rcograpki/. — Those trees are tro])icnl and subtropical, natives of In<lia and 

 the islands s(Mith of Asia. 



Fti/mo/offy. — The name stt-i/chuos: is from the Cireek word, arpuxt'os. which 

 signifies to "strew" or " throw down," in fancied allusion to the stupefying 

 effects it produces upon tlie animal system. \ur rnniira signifies /o"/ »"', — 

 from the Latin n;<.r, a nut, and vomini, a plague or loathsome disease, alluding 

 to its poisonous ((ualities hjuntil is named after .*>/. Ignatius. Coluhr'mn, 

 Latin, is a general name fur innocuous ser])Pnts. hence also snnke taml . Chettik 



Strychnon n»ix vomica (Nux Voniiia). 



