Volume 3

Twentieth century practice : an international encyclopedia of modern medical science / by leading authorities of Europe and America ; edited by Thomas L. Stedman.

Date:: 1895-1903

Credit: Twentieth century practice : an international encyclopedia of modern medical science / by leading authorities of Europe and America ; edited by Thomas L. Stedman. Source: Wellcome Collection.

571/658

$alcohol. Its taste is exceedinglj^ bitter, and it combines with acids to form salts. The i)orportion of brucine in nux vomica is greater than that of strychnine, ranging from one to two per cent. Its physiologi- cal action is the same, but it is estimated to be thirty-eight times weaker and much slower in producing its effects. Richert {31edical News, April 8th, 1893) publishes a series of experiments to determine Fio. 45.—Strychnos Nux Vomica, Flowering Brancli. CBaillou.) the comparative actions of the two alkaloids. He finds no difference of any practical iinjjortance, excepting in their strength. He con- siders strychnine forty or fifty times as powerful as brucine. Bru- cine and strychnine may be separated by their relative solubility iu alcohol, but this is more thoroughly accomplished by adding a neu- tral solution of chromate of ])otassium to a liot solution of the salts, chromate of strychuiuo being deposited as insoluble, oruugc-yellow$