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

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

From Time Magazine Archive

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 Elliott, Maud Howe

The tincture is prepared from the dried rhizome and rootlets of green hellebore, containing the alkaloids jervine, veratrine and veratroidine.

From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 13, Slice 2 "Hearing" to "Helmond" by Various

In connection with this it is interesting to note that the effect of veratrine poison on muscle is somewhat similar.

From Response in the Living and Non-Living by Bose, Jagadis Chandra, Sir

If it were veratrine derived from death camas it would point toward Page.

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