98 ON THE EXTRACTION OF STRYCHNIA. 
perature of boiling water, stirring constantly, until a small 
portion removed and cooled ceases to adhere to the fingers, 
and is friable. It is necessary to replace the water, as it 
evaporates during the boiling. 
The soap of lime which furnishes the most beautiful plas- 
ter, is obtained by decomposing a solution of oil soap with 
one of chloride of calcium. The precipitate should be 
washed, expressed and dried ; pulverized with half its 
weight of resin, (Terebenthine cuite,) and melt the mixture 
in boiling water with one-eighth of suet. This adhesive 
plaster resembles very closely in its consistence and exte- 
rior aspect that of lead employed at present, and it is very 
adhesive. — Jour, de Pharm. from Repertoriurn fur die 
Pharmacie. 
ART. XXXI.— ON THE EXTRACTION OF STRYCHNIA. 
By M. J. F. Molyn. 
The extraction of the vegetable alkaloids often presents 
considerable difficulty, because these active principles are 
found combined with acids, or mixed with other principles 
which accompany them in the different parts of the plant, 
and from which it is often very difficult to separate them. 
Nux vomica, which is used for the extraction of strychnia, 
in preference to St. Ignatius's beans, its commercial value 
being less, consists of a very hard horny substance, not easily 
penetrated by liquids ; it contains a large quantity of gummy 
matter, which when the seeds are treated with water, dis- 
solves together with the igasurate of strychnia. On adding 
lime to this solution, to decompose the salt of strychnia, the 
mucilage is precipitated with the alkaloid, forming a very 
