400 VEGETABLE DRUGS 



SECTION II.— DEUGS ACTING ON THE SPINAL 



CORD. 



Class 1.— Stimulating the Inferior Cornua. 



Nux Vomica. Nux Vomica. (U. S. & B. P.) 



'Synonym. — Semen nucis vomicae, poison nut, Quaker 

 button, E.; noix vomique, Fr.; krahen-augen, brechnuss, G. 



The seed of Strychnos nux-vomica Linne (nat. ord. 

 Loganiacese). 



Description. — About 25 mm. in diameter, orbicular, 

 grayish, or greenish-gray, soft, hairy, of a silky lustre, with 

 a slight ridge extending from the centre of one side to the 

 edge ; internally horny, somewhat translucent, very tough, 

 with a large circular cavity into which the heart-shaped, 

 nerved cotyledons project. It is inodorous and persistently 

 bitter. 



Constituents. — Two alkaloids. 1. Strychnine, 0.2-0.6 per 

 cent. 2. Brucine (C^sHjeNjO^), 0.5-1.0 per cent. Similar in 

 action to strychnine, but weaker and slower. Both alkaloids 

 exist in combination with igasuric acid. ■ Brucine occurs in 

 rectangular octohedral crystals ; is soluble in alcohol, in 

 7 parts of chloroform, and possesses a bitter taste. "With 

 sulphuric and nitric acids a beautiful blood-red color is 

 developed. Nux vomica should yield not less than 1.25 per 

 cent, of strychnine (U. S. P.) . 



Dose—R. & C, 3i.-ii. (4.-8.); Sh., gr.xx.-xl. (1.3-2.6); 

 Sw., gr.x.-xx. (.6-1.3); D., gr.i.-ii. (.06-.12). 



PREPARATIONS. 



Hxtractum Nucis Vomicce. Extract of Nux Vomica. (U. S. & B. P.) 

 Made by maceration with alcohol, water and acetic acid; percola- 

 tion with alcohol and water, and evaporation. Standardized to contain 

 5 per cent, of strychnine. (XT. S. P.) 



Dose.—B.. & C, gr.vii.-xv. (.5-1.); Sh., gr.ii.ss.-Y. (.15-. 3); Sw., 

 gr.i.-ii. (.06-.13); D., gr.H (.008-.016). 



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