VERATRIA AND ITS USE. 
187 
In 1819 these gentlemen detected Veratria in the Veratrum 
Sabadilla, Veratrum Album, and the Colchicum. The fol- 
lowing is the mode commonly pursued to obtain this sub- 
stance. 
Boil the seed of the Veratrum Sabadilla with water; when, 
by repeated decoctions, all the soluble active matter is extract- 
ed, evaporate to diminish its volume. Treat this liquid with 
a solution of acetate of lead until it ceases to furnish a precipi- 
tate. Filter and pass through the liquid a current of hydro- 
sulphuric acid gas — which will precipitate the excess of lead 
in the form of sulphuret. Then expose to heat to drive off 
the excess of acid, and having again filtered it, boil with an 
excess of magnesia. In this manner the acetate of veratria is 
decomposed, and the veratria precipitated with the excess of 
magnesia. The precipitate is then collected upon a filter, 
washed with cold water and dried; it is afterwards powdered, 
treated with boiling alcohol and animal charcoal, then filtered, 
and, lastly, abandoned to spontaneous evaporation, which leaves 
the Veratria in the form of a white powder. 
Veratria is of a dull white colour, but generally grayish as 
brought from the laboratories. It is pulverulent and inodo- 
rous; but so extremely acrid, that the smallest particle of this 
subtile powder coming in contact with the nostril excites vio- 
lent sneezing, which lasts for some time. It has a very acrid 
taste, without any bitterness. It is sparingly soluble in water, 
very soluble in alcohol, but less so in ether. It restores litmus 
reddened by an acid. It forms salts with the acids, but only 
one of which is crystallizable — the sulphate — and that only 
partially. With the other acids an uncrystallizable mass is 
formed resembling gum. 
The product is not abundant; on the contrary, so little does 
the V. Sabadilla yield, although furnishing more than the 
other varieties of this plant, and the operation being attended 
with considerable trouble, as to make it costly — so much so, 
as to expose the article to sophistication. This makes it very 
necessary to exercise some caution in its selection. 
A fraud of the kind, practised upon our druggists about two 
