veratrine

American  

[ver-uh-treen, -trin] / ˈvɛr əˌtrin, -trɪn /

Also veratria

noun

Chemistry, Pharmacology.

1. a white or grayish-white, slightly water-soluble, poisonous mixture of alkaloids obtained by extraction from the seeds of sabadilla and the rhizomes of white hellebore: formerly used in medicine as a counterirritant in the treatment of rheumatism and neuralgia.

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veratrine British  

/ ˈvɛrəˌtriːn, ˈvɛrətrɪn /

noun

1. a white poisonous mixture obtained from the seeds of sabadilla, consisting of veratridine and several other alkaloids: formerly used in medicine as a counterirritant

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Etymology

Origin of veratrine

First recorded in 1815–25; from French, from Latin vērātr(um) “hellebore” + French -ine noun suffix; see -ine ² ( def. 2 )

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

veratrine

Especially effective was a .5% mixture of veratrine and cocoanut oil.

From Time Magazine Archive

When inhaled, the powder causes violent sneezing, similar to that produced by veratrine itself, which is, as already stated, a constituent of the corm.

From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 6, Slice 6 "Cockaigne" to "Columbus, Christopher" by Various

The seven leaves on which drops of veratrine had been left for 26 hrs. were given bits of meat, and after 21 hrs. were well inflected.

From Insectivorous Plants by Darwin, Charles

To excite respiration, turn the patient slightly on his side, and apply some irritating or stimulating agent to the nostrils, as veratrine, dilute ammonia, etc. 4th.

From A Treatise on Physiology and Hygiene For Educational Institutions and General Readers by Hutchison, Joseph Chrisman

But it makes all the difference in the world in this case what was the source of the veratrine.

From The Treasure-Train by Reeve, Arthur B. (Arthur Benjamin)