ON THE EXTRACTION OF STRYCHNIA. 
99 
abundant deposit, which requires a large quantity of alco- 
hol to deprive it of the strychnia which it contains. If to 
avoid this gummy matter, the seeds be directly treated with 
alcohol, the process becomes very expensive, in consequence 
of the large quantity of alcohol that must be employed to 
dissolve the whole of the strychnia. 
The objections which apply to the above means, have 
induced me to try the effect of fermentation, which does not 
at all affect the active principle present. The gummy and 
saccharine matters of the seeds are decomposed, carbonic 
acid is disengaged, while the lactic acid which is produced, 
decomposing the igasurate of strychnia and brucia, forms 
with these alkaloids very soluble lactates. 
Availing myself of those improvements which have been 
suggested by authors who have directed their attention to 
the extraction of strychnia, and adding such modifications 
as my experience proved to be useful, I have fixed on the 
following process, which, in addition to its being economical 
affords a good result. 
Mix nine pounds of nux vomica in coarse powder with 
water, so as to form a thin paste. Keep this at a tempera- 
ture of from 6S° to 78° Fahr. for several days, when fer- 
mentation will manifest itself by the disengagement of a 
large quantity of carbonic acid. The mixture is to be daily 
stirred, so that the whole of the powder may be exposed to 
the fermentative process. I think that when the washed 
seeds are previously boiled for two or three hours, so as 
more completely to dissolve the gummy matter, the process 
is abridged. The fermentation is completed in eighteeen or 
twenty days, and is indicated by the cessation of the disen- 
gagement of gas. The mixture is then passed through a 
hair sieve and pressed. The residue is boiled two or three 
times, according to the quantity of water employed. The 
liquids are left to become clear by deposition, and are then 
evaporated to about three gallons. Add nine ounces of 
quick-lime in powder, well stirring the precipitate ; let it 
