STRYCHNINE, strIk'nin,(Latin strych nos, from Greek of same form) CnI-InNi02, an alkaloid existing in the seeds of the Strychnos Nux-vonuca, Saint Ignatius bean, and the other species of Strychnos. The Strychnos Nux-vomica is a tree of medium size growing in the East Indies. It bears a pulpy fruit about the size of an orange, con taining the large seeds that are the drug nux vomica. These seeds are circular, about three quarters of an inch in diameter, an eighth of an inch thick, and very hard and horny. Rasped or filed they are used to kill cats, dogs, rats and vermin under the name of rats-bane or dog but tons. The active principle strychnine may be obtained by treating nux-vomica with alcohol containing a little sulphuric acid. This solution contains the strychnine as well as various color ing matters. From it the strychnine may be obtained in small white prismatic crystals, slightly soluble in water, giving it a bitter taste even in as dilute a solution as one part in 700,000. Strychnine is very poisonous, a
small amount causing death with violent tetanic convulsions. It is, however, used ex tensively in very small doses in medicine, be ing valuable as a heart stimulant, and in cases of paralysis, nervous affections, dyspepsia, etc. It is a weak base forming salts with acids, The sulphuric acid salt or strychnia sulphate is used generally in place of the free alkaloid. Sulphuric acid and strychnine together form a colorless solution which is turned strongly violet by the addition of bichromate of potash. The purple rapidly changes into red and from that into yellow. See ALKALOIDS ; TOXICOLOGY ; BRUCINE.