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

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

The colchiceæ, from which is obtained veratrine, form an exception among the monocotyledons.

From Scientific American Supplement, No. 623, December 10, 1887 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

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