Dictionary.net

See Strychnine.

A poisonons alkaloid, valuable as a medicine, usually obtained from the seeds of the nux vomica.

A vegetable alkaloid, being the active principle of mix vomica, St Ignatius's beans, and snakewood, a deadly poison, but in minute quantities a most valuable medicine.

An alkaline principle; solid, crystalline, inodorous, bitter, and excessively poisonous, which has been found in Strychnos nux vomica, S. Colubrina, S. Tieute, Ignatia amara, Cerbera Thevetia, and C. Ahovai. Digest the nux vomica in two gallons of water, acidulated with a fluidounce of muriatic acid, for 24 hours: then boil for two hours, and strain with expression through a strong linen bag. Boil the residuum twice successively in the same quantity of acidulated water, each time straining as before. Mix the decoctions, and evaporate to the consistency of thin syrup; then add the lime previously mixed with a pint of water, and boil for ten minutes, frequently stirring. Pour the mixture into a double linen bag, and having washed the precipitate well with water, press, dry, and powder it. Treat the powder repeatedly with boiling alcohol, until deprived of its bitterness; mix the liquors, and distil off the alcohol by means of a water-bath. Mix the residue with water, and having applied heat, drop in sufficient diluted sulphuric acid to neutralize and dissolve the strychnia; then add purified animal charcoal; boil for a few minutes, filter, evaporate, and crystallize. Dissolve the crystals in water, and add sufficient solution of ammonia to precipitate the strychnia. Lastly, dry the precipitate on bibulous paper. Ph. U. S. The action-therapeutical and toxical-of strychnia on man and animals is exactly like that of the alcoholic extract of nux vomica. It is, however, more active. An eighth of a grain is sufficient to kill a large dog: and a quarter of a grain produces marked effects on the human body, when in health. It has been given in paralysis and other cases like the nux vomica. Dose, one-sixteenth to one-twelfth of a grain.

Same as Strychnin.

See strychnin.