Page:Journal of the Asiatic Society of Bengal Vol 2.djvu/78

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The enormous price of 120 rupees having been paid at the Hon'ble Company's Dispensary for a single half ounce of strychnia; it became my duty to attempt to prepare it, by a process, more expeditious and less expensive, than that recommended in the formulary of Magendie ; and which, at the same time, should be equal to the demands made upon the department. I hope that both these objects have been effected by the following method:

Infuse a determined quantity of Nux Vomica in boiling distilled water, until it becomes soft; take it from the liquid, bruise it coarsely in a large metal mortar, and treat it with successive infusions of boiling distilled water, till it becomes nearly tasteless. Strain the liquids, and having mingled them together, boil with calcined magnesia for half an hour, and collect the precipitate upon a filter of fine muslin. When the precipitate has become free from the liquid, wash it gently, twice, as it lies on the filter, with cold distilled water, and afterwards dry it upon a water bath.

Treat the precipitate, dried as above-mentioned, with successive portions of boiling alcohol, sp. g. .838, or stronger, until it becomes quite exhausted, then mix the whole of the filtered alcoholic liquid, and evaporate in a water bath, till a thick crust forms upon the surface; set it aside to crystallize for twelve hours; pour off the mother waters, and collect and dry the strychnia upon filtering paper.

In this state, the strychnia is in small, but by no means microscopic, irregular crystals, of a light-brown colour; and it may be purified by redissolving and re-crystallizing it in boiling alcohol, or by pouring over it portions of rectified æther.