Take of sabadilla, bruised, two pounds; rectified spirit, three gallons; diluted sulphuric acid, solution of ammonia, purified animal charcoal, magnesia, of each, a sufficient quantity. Boil the sabadilla with a gallon of the spirit for an hour, in a retort with a receiver fitted to it. Decant the solution, and boil the residue with another gallon of the spirit and that which has distilled, and pour off the liquor. Let this be done a third time. Press the sabadilla, and distil the spirit from the liquors mixed and strained. Evaporate the residue to the consistence of an extract. Boil this three or more times in water acidulated with a little diluted sulphuric acid, and evaporate the strained liquor with a gentle heat to the consistence of syrup. To this, when it is cold, add magnesia to saturation, assiduously stirring; then press and wash. Let this be repeated two or three times; then dry the residue, and digest it two or three times in spirit, with a gentle heat, and strain as often. Afterwards distil the spirit. Boil what remains in water, acidulated with sulphuric acid, and with the addition of animal charcoal, for a quarter of an hour, and strain.

Finally, the charcoal being well washed, evaporate the liquors carefully to the consistence of syrup, and add to them as much ammonia as will be sufficient for precipitating the veratria. Wash and dry it."

In this process, the gallate of veratria, which exists in the seeds of Sabadilla (Helonias officinalis), is taken up by the alcohol, aided by the sulphuric acid, which decomposes the gallate and forms a sulphate of veratria. This is decomposed by the magnesia, and the veratria is precipitated, freed in a great measure from the other substances with which it was combined. It is again converted into a sulphate, which is ultimately decomposed by the ammonia, and the veratria precipitates in a tolerably pure state.

Veratria was discovered by Pelletier and Caventou in 1819, and may, also, be procured from the roots of Veratrum album. It is supposed to be the active principle of colchicum; but, according to Geiger and Hesse, this is a mistake. These chymists assert that the alkali of colchicum is distinct from veratria in its solubility, its acrimony, and its poisonous influence, which is considerably less than that of veratria.1

1 Journ. of Phil. Col. of Pharm. vi. 320.

Couerbe supposes the Helonias contains also another alkali, which he has named sabadilline.

Qualities. - Veratria is a whitish, inodorous powder, impressing an acrid, burning taste on the palate. It is nearly insoluble in water at 60°, and requires for its solution more than 1000 parts of water at 212°. It is readily dissolved in alcohol, but less so in aether. It gives an alkaline reaction, and combines with the acids, forming salts which are not easily crystallized. The constituents of veratria are, 34 eq. of carbon = 208.08 + 22 of hydrogen =22 + 1 of nitrogen = 14.15 + 6 of oxygen = 48; making the equivalent=292.23; or 70.83 parts of carbon + 7.63 of hydrogen + 4.88 of nitrogen + 16.66 of oxygen in 100 parts.

Medical properties and uses. - This alkali is a powerful topical excitant, but it is by no means certain that it is taken into the system. It is difficult to apportion the dose for internal administration, even when dissolved in alcohol; and as its chief influence is as a topical purgative, I do not perceive any advantage which it possesses over elaterium, which operates nearly in the same manner. As an external application it has been efficaciously employed by Majendie in France, and Dr. Turnbull in this country: but the extravagant eulogies of the latter have not tended to confirm the reputation of the remedy. From six to twelve grains dissolved in f j. of alcohol as a liniment, or 30 grs. mixed with 3j. of olive oil and j. of lard as an ointment, have been employed in neuralgia and other painful affections, and in gouty and rheumatic paralysis. If it be internally employed, the dose should not exceed one-twelth of a grain; and the action of even this minute dose should be watched.