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

Both of those," he remarked, holding up the vials, "were samples of pure veratrine, but obtained from different sources.

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

Oculist said weakness was the disease, and rest the remedy—oculist recommended veratrine ointment, frequent refreshing of eyes with wet cloth, cleared his throat every minute, and was an old humbug.

From Julia Ward Howe 1819-1910 by Maud Howe Elliott

This latter is the preparation still most generally used, though the presence of veratrine both in the corm and the seeds renders the use of colchicine itself theoretically preferable.

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

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 Joseph Chrisman Hutchison