88 
DELPHINIUM STAPHISAGRIA. 
pared by digesting the unbruised seeds in diluted sulphuric acid, and 
precipitating by ammonia or sub-carbonate of potass ; dissolve the 
precipitate in alcohol, and purify by drawing off the alcohol and 
re-dissolving in hydrochloric acid, then boil with magnesia; the de- 
posit dissolved in alcohol affords the Delphine in a state of great 
purity. 
Properties of Delphine. " Pure delphine is in the form of 
a white powder, crystalline when moist, but soon becomes opaque on 
exposure to the air ; it is inodorous, and has a very bitter and acrid 
taste. Water dissolves so small a quantity of it, that it can only be 
discovered by the bitterness it communicates. Alcohol and ether dis- 
solve it very readily. The alcoholic solution acts powerfully in turning 
the syrup of violets green, and restores the blue of turnsol paper 
when reddened by acids. Delphine forms with the mineral and veget- 
able acids very soluble neutral salts, the taste of which is very bitter 
and acrid. Alkalies precipitate it in the form of a white jelly."* 
Action of Delphine on Animals. In the experiments of 
Orfila on dogs, this substance proved fatal in doses of six grains, 
(gr. 4.92 troy) ; this effect took place more rapidly when the Delphine 
was dissolved in weak acetic acid, in which case the animal died in 
the space of from forty to fifty minutes. Its action appears to be 
exerted chiefly on the nervous system. When death is not the 
immediate consequence of its action on the nervous system, it pro- 
duces local irritation and subsequent inflammation : inflammation 
however does not appear to be a necessary consequence of its 
noxious action on the stomach. f 
We have not learnt that Delphine has been used medicinally, but 
it is probable that in cases in which stavesacre might be indicated, 
Delphine would be preferable to any preparation of the plant, pre- 
suming that the active properties of the plant reside in this peculiar 
alkali, if 
Medical Uses. Stavesacre was employed by the ancients as 
an emetic and cathartic, in doses of from ten to fifteen grains ; § 
it was also employed by them as a masticatory, exciting on being 
chewed, a copious flow of saliva; its deleterious effects however were 
discovered to be so powerful, that its internal use has been long 
abandoned. Schultz, by only keeping it in his mouth to relieve the 
♦ Magendie's Formulary, by Dunglison. 
t Nouveau Journal de M6decine, toI. x. No. 38. 
t As water dissolres a very minute portion opiy of pure Delphine, the salts of which 
this alkali forms the base (on account of their solubility) should be employed. 
$ Vide Dioscorid. and Sylvius De Purgant. &c. 
