SOLANUM DULCAMARA. 
n 
three times a day ; and may be gradually increased to a much larger 
quantity ; the extract has been given from five to ten grains for a dose. 
Off. the twigs. Off. Pp. Decoct. Dulcamara. L. 
M. Desfosses, Apothecary at Besanjou, has lately discovered a 
new alkali in the Solanum Dulcamara, and Solanura Nigrum, which 
he named Solanine ; M. Desfosses found this alkali most abundant 
in the berries of the nightshade, (where it exists in the state of 
malate) and in the leaves of the Dulcamara, but could discover no 
traces of it in^the leaves of the nightshade. To obtain this alkali, 
M. Desfosses digested the filtered juice of the ripe berries of the 
Solanum Nigrum, in Ammonia, when a greyish precipitate was 
formed, which he washed on a filter, and digested in boiling Alcohol; 
this, by evaporation, gave the salifiable base, in a tolerably pure 
state ; but, if the berries operated upon were not ripe, the Solanine 
would be mixed with a certain proportion of the green colouring 
principle, or Chlorophylle, which he found great difiiculty in sepa- 
rating. 
Properties of Solanine. " Perfectly pure Solanine is in 
the form of a white opaque, and sometimes pearly powder ; it is 
" inodorous ; its taste is slightly bitter, and nauseous, and its 
" bitterness is developed by solution in acids, especially in Acetic 
" Acid. Its salts are incrystallizable, the solutions giving by evapo- 
" ration a gummy transparent mass, which may be easily powdered. 
" Solanine is insoluble in cold water, and hot water only dissolves 
Wo P«rt ; Alcohol dissolves a small quantity. Its alkaline 
" properties are slightly manifested by its action on turmeric ; it 
" however restores the blue of turnsol paper when reddened by 
*• acids ; it unites with acids, even in the cold ; and perfectly 
** neutral solutions may be obtained, if care be used. Like all other 
*» vegetable alkalies, it is saturated by a very small quantity of acid.'' 
Action of Solanine on the Animal Economy. We 
have not learnt that Solanine has yet been prescribed in cases of 
diisease, but wherever the Dulcamara, or Solanum Nigrum, is indi- 
cated, it is probable the Solanine would be found useful.* Solanine, 
in doses of two to four grains, when introduced into the stomachs 
of dogs or cats, excites violent vomiting followed by sleep. Mag- 
endie says, eight grains were given to a young cat, which excited 
violent vomiting, followed by sound sleep for 30 hours: hence 
* The Acetate is the only salt that has been tried on man ; a quarter of 
(gr. 205 troy) produces nausea, but no disposition to sleep. Magendie. 
