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

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 Hutchison, Joseph Chrisman

It should, however, be observed that curare, colchicine, and veratrine are muscle-poisons—that is, act on nerves having some special relation with the muscles, and, therefore, could not be expected to act on Drosera.

From Insectivorous Plants by Darwin, Charles

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)

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

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