346 VEGETABLE DRUGS 



Vebatrina. Veratrine. (U. S. & B. P.) 



A mixture of alkaloids obtained from the seed of Asagroea officinalis 

 (Chamisso and Schlechtendal) Lindley (Fam. Liliaceffi). (U. S. P.) This sub- 

 stance contains the pure alkaloid veratrine or cevadine (C3j,H4„NO„), cevadilline, 

 sabadine, sabadinine, and veratridine. The action described below is that of pure 

 veratrine. 



Derivation.— Ohtained from the seed by alcohol, which is recovered by dis- 

 tillation, and the residue is treated with water to precipitate resins; filtered, and 

 veratrine is precipitated from the filtrate by ammonia. It is further purified by 

 solution in water, decolorization and reprecipitation. 



Properties. — White, or grayish-white, amorphous; odorless, but causing in- 

 tense irritation and sneezing when even a minute quantity reaches the nasal 

 mucous membrane; having an acrid taste, and leaving a sense of tingling and 

 numbness on the tongue. Slightly hygroscopic. Very slightly soluble in cold or 

 hot water; soluble in 2.2 parts of alcohol, and very soluble in boiling alcohol; 

 also soluble in 3 parts of ether, and in 1 part of chloroform. 



Dose.—H., gr.ss-ii, (.03-.12) ; C, gr.ii-v, (.12-.3); Sw., gr.i/4-%, (.015-.03), 

 subcutaneously in alcohol, D., gr.1/50-1/10, (.0012-.006). 



The smaller doses to be given subcutaneously. 



PREPARATIOir. 



Unguentum Veratrinw. (B. P.) 



Action External. — Veratrine is a powerful irritant. If inhaled in 

 minutest quantity it causes sneezing and a mucous, or bloody discharge. 

 When injected under the skin, veratrine occasions suffering and restless- 

 ness. Rubbed into the skin or applied to a mucous membrane or raw 

 surface, it produces redness and pain followed by local anesthesia. 



Action Internal. — Here again veratrine is an intense irritant. After 

 ingestion of large doses, there are salivation, violent vomiting, in animals 

 capable of the act; often severe purging, pain, collapse, fall of tempera- 

 ture and other symptoms common to gastro-enteritis. 



Nervous System and Muscles. — Veratrine is a poison to the medulla, 

 spinal cord, motor and sensory nerves and muscles, first exalting and 

 then depressing and paralyzing their functional activity. The cerebrum 

 escapes its influence. Spasms and convulsions occur in veratrine poison- 

 ing, in the stage of motor excitement, while paralysis follows depression 

 of the nerves and muscles. The action of the substance begins and ends 

 sooner in the nerves than the muscles. The effect of veratrine on volun- 

 tary muscle is peculiar. A tracing of a muscle during contraction shows 

 that the latent period, and that of ascent, is unaltered; but the amount 

 of contraction is much augmented, as shown by the increased height of 

 the curve; and the time of relaxation is greatly prolonged. 



Circulation. — Veratrine affects the heart muscle much as it does the 

 striped muscle, and the vagus nerve similarly to the spinal nerves. The 

 cardiac muscle, vagus and vasomotor centres are primarily stimulated, 

 while later the heart muscle, vagus endings and vasomotor centres are 

 depressed and paralyzed. Three conditions have been noted in relation 

 to the pulse, corresponding to different stages in the action of veratrine. 

 1 . A small dose may induce a temporary rise of pulse rate, force and ten- 

 sion, by stimulation of the cardiac muscle and vasomotor centres. -2. 

 Large doses are followed by slowing and weakening of the pulse. The 

 vagus centre is stimulated and the heart muscle depressed. 3. Towards 



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