Note 572 — PHARMACOLOGIA. (continued 5)

Strychnia was obtained from the beans of St. Ignatius by the following process: a portion of the beans being grated was heated in a close vessel, under pressure, with sulphuric æther, by which an oily matter was dissolved; the residuum then yielded by the action of alcohol, a yellowish brown, very bitter substance, which being boiled in pure magnesia and filtered, the colouring matter was washed out, and the Strychnia and magnesia, in a state of mixture, remained on the filtre. The Strychnia was then separated by alcohol, and thus obtained in a state of great purity.