§§ 39 2 > 393 -] STRYCHNINE. 325 
tin ; the aqueous infusion gives a precipitate with tincture of galls, is 
reddened by nitric acid, and gives an olive-green tint with persulphate 
of iron. The best method, however, of recognising quickly and with 
certainty that the substance under examination is nux vomica powder, 
is to extract strychnine from it by the following simple process :—The 
powder is completely exhausted by boiling alcohol (90 per cent.), the 
alcoholic extract evaporated to dryness, and then treated with water; 
the aqueous solution is passed through a wet filter, and concentrated by 
evaporation to a small bulk. To this liquid a drop or so of a concen¬ 
trated solution of picric acid is added, and the yellow precipitate of 
picrates thus obtained is separated, treated with nitric acid, the picric 
acid removed by ether, and the pure alkaloid precipitated by soda, and 
shaken out by chloroform. 
Grutterink suggests that 5 mgrms. or less of nux vomica powder should 
be defatted by treating in a small extraction apparatus, and then mois¬ 
tened with a drop of N/10 hydrochloric acid. A drop of water is added 
and allowed to percolate through. The acid solution is divided into two 
drops, at two corners of a glass microscopic slide, and allowed to dry ; 
to the one a drop of a solution of sodic carbonate is added, to the other 
a solution of opianic acid ; the first will produce strychnine crystals, the 
second the very characteristic brucine salt (see post). Or both alkaloids 
can be demonstrated in the same drop ; one edge is treated with solution 
of sodium carbonate, the other with opianic acid. 1 
§ 392. Chemical Composition. —Nux vomica contains two important 
alkaloids :— 
1. Strychnine. 
2. Brucine. 
§ 393. Strychnine (C 21 H 22 N 2 0 2 ) is contained in the bean of Strychnos 
Ignatius , in the bark ( false angustura bark) and seeds of the Strychnos 
nux vomica , in the Strychnos colubrina , L., in the Strychnos tieute, Lescli., 
and probably in various other plants of the same genus. 
Commercial strychnine is met with either in colourless crystals or 
as a white powder, the most usual form being that of the alkaloid itself ; 
but the nitrate, sulphate, and acetate are also sold to a small extent. 
The microscopical appearance of strychnine, as thrown down by the 
solution of vapour of ammonia, may be referred to three leading forms— 
the long rectangular prism, the short hexagonal prism, or the regular 
octahedron. If obtained from the slow evaporation of an alcoholic 
solution, it is usually in the form of four-sided pyramids or long prisms ; 
but if obtained by speedy evaporation or rapid cooling, it appears as a 
white granular powder. If obtained from a benzene solution, the 
deposit is usually crystalline, but without a constant form, though at 
1 Zeit. f. anal. Chem., 1912. 
