NAT. ORDER. — SOLANACE^E. 
179 
water, requiring 2500 parts of boiling- water. The principal character 
of Strychnine consists in its forming" neutral salts when united with 
acids ; these salts are crystallizable, and for the most part soluble, and 
are much more active than the simple substance : it is therefore thought 
that when the system is habituated to the action of pure Strychnine, 
the salts may be substituted without increasing- the dose. 
Sulphate of Strychnine. This salt, if neutral, crystallizes in small 
transparent cubes, and in needles if the acid preponderates ; it is solu- 
ble in less than ten parts of cold water, and decomposed by every 
soluble, salifiable basis. It consists of sulphuric acid 9,5, and Strych- 
nine 90, 5—100. 
Hydrochlorate of Strychnine. This salt is very soluble, and crys- 
tallizes in needles, which, viewed through a lens, appear to be quad- 
rangular prisms ; when exposed to a temperature at which the base 
is decomposable, it gives off muriatic acid. 
Nitrate of Strychnine. This salt crystallizes in needles of a 
pearly aspect ; it is much more soluble in hot than in cold water. It 
forms a very soluble salt with the oxalic, tartaric and acetic acids, sus- 
ceptible of crystallization, especially if the acid be in excess. The 
action of this salt (the nitrate) is more energetic than that of the Strych- 
nine itself. 
Phospate of Strychnine — Crystallizes in four-sided prisms, and 
can only be obtained in a perfectly neutral state by double decompo- 
sition. 
Subcarbonate of Strychnine — Is obtained in the form of white 
flakes. Boiled with iodine, it forms an iodate and hydriodate. 
Remedial Effects, fyc, of Nux vomica, and its Preparations. — 
M. Magendie, having by a series of experiments ascertained that the 
whole family of plants of the Strychni amari had the singular property 
of acting immediately and powerfully on the spinal marrow, without 
affecting, except indirectly, the functions of the brain, though they 
might be advantageously applied to the treatment of disease. He put 
his newly discovered remedy boldly to the test, and his conjecture, he 
