STBYCHSINE 401 



Fluidextr actum Nucis Vomicce. Fluidextract of Nux Vomica. 



(U.S. P.) 

 Made by digestion and percolation with alcohol, water and acetic 

 acid. The alcohol is distilled off and the solution evaporated. Alcohol 

 and water are added so that the fluidextract shall contain 1 per cent, of 

 strychnine. ' 



Dose— H. & C, 3i.-ii. (4.-8.); Sh., nxx.-xxx. (1.3-3.); Sw., irix.- 

 XX. (6-1.3); D., ni-ii. (.06-.13). 



Tinctura Nuds Vomicm. Tincture of Nux Vomica. (U. S. & B. P) 

 Made by solution of the extract of nux vomica, 30, in alcohol, and 

 water to make 1,000. (U. S. P.) Contains 0.1 per cent, strychnine. 

 Dose,— D., mv.-x. (.3-.6). 



Strychnina. Strychnine. G,, H,, N^, O^. (U. S. & B. P.) 



An alkaloid obtained from nux vomica, and also obtain- 

 able from other plants of the natural order Loganiaceaa. 



Derivation. — Nux vomica seeds are powdered and 

 strychnine is extracted with water acidulated with hydro- 

 chloric acid. The solution is concentrated and strychnine 

 precipitated with lime. It is then redissolved in boiling 

 alcohol and the crystals are deposited upon concentration 

 of the solution. 



Properties. — Colorless, transparent, octohedral,.or pris- 

 matic crystals, or a white, crystalline powder ; odorless, and 

 having an intensely bitter taste, perceptible in even highly 

 dilute (1 in 700,000) solution. Permanent in the air. 

 Soluble in 6,700 parts of water, and in 110 parts of alcohol; 

 in 2,500 parts of boiling water, and in 12 parts of boiling 

 alcohol ; also soluble in 7 parts of chloroform, but almost 

 insoluble in ether. Upon ignition, it is consumed, leaving 

 no residue. No coloration ie produced with nitric or sul- 

 phuric acid, but a drop of the latter and a grain of potassium 

 bichromate, added to a crystal of strychnine upon a porce- 

 lain plate, yields a beautiful violet, changing into purplish- 

 red and cherry-red, and finally to orange or yellow. 



i>ose.— Same as strychnine sulphate or nitrate (minimum 

 quantities), which are preferable on account of their greater 

 solubility. 



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