VERATRUM ALBUM. 
145 
digested in boiling alcohol : the alcoholic liquors yielded on evapo- 
riation a pulverulent substance, at first yellowish, but by solutions 
in alcohol, and subsequent precipitations, caused by pouring water 
into the alcoholic solutions, it was obtained in the form of a very 
white and perfectly inodorous powder." * This was the alkaline' 
substance sought for. Veratrine is scarcely soluble in cold water ; 
boiling water dissolves yoVo weight, and becomes sensibly 
acrid : it is very soluble in ethtr, and still more so in alcohol : it is 
insoluble in the alkalies, and soluble in all the vegetable acids ; it 
saturates all the acids, forming with them incrystallizable salts, 
which on evaporation take the appearance of gum : the sulphate 
alone forms rudiments of crystals when its acid is in excess.f 
Veratrine restores the blue of turnsol paper, when reddened by 
acids ; exposed to the action of heat it liquefies at 121** Fahr., and 
assumes the appearance of wax : on cooling it forms an amber- 
looking mass, of a translucent appearance. Distilled on the naked 
fire it swells up, becomes decomposed, and produces water, much 
oil, &c. 
The taste of Veratrine is very acid, but without bitterness; it 
excites a copious salivation, however small the quantity may be 
which is put into the month : though absolutely inodorous, it is not 
advisable to smell too closely at it when in a state of powder, as the 
smallest quantity carried into the nostrils is often sufficient ta 
produce violent sneezing. Several experiment^ have been made 
with the acetate of Veratrine, the only preparation which has been 
used for this purpose, as being one of the most active : by these it 
appears that, besides its effects in producing sneezing and salivation, 
about one grain and a half thrown into the tunica vaginalis, or into 
the jugular vein, induced tetanus and death in a few seconds. 
The effects of Veratrine in a large dose have not been observed 
on man : a dose of a quarter of a grain (gr. 0.205 troy) rapidly 
induces very abundant alvine evacuations ; if the dose be augmented, 
more or less violent vomiting is occasioned. M. Magendie says he 
gave it in the dose of two grains (gr. 1.64 troy) in the twenty-four 
hours, to an old man who had been struck with apoplexy some time 
previously, without producing too many alvine evacuations : having 
tasted the mixture himself, he experienced for several hours an 
almost insupportable acrid sensation in the mouth and pharynx. 
* Magendie Formulaire. 
+ Ibid. 
