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; -ine ² ( def. 2 )

Example Sentences

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 Reeve, Arthur B. (Arthur Benjamin)

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

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)

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