Cl. 23. Ord.l. Polygamia Monoecia. Nat. ord. Melanthaceae. Species - H. Sabadilla. Sabadilla plant. Don, Ed. Ph. Journ.

Retz. Obs. Bot. p. 29. Officinal. Sabadilla, Lond.

Syn. Cevadille, poudre de capucin (F.).

This plant is a native of Mexico. The stem is annual, rising from a foot to two feet in height, and terminated with a spike of dark purple bisexual flowers, intermingled with males by abortion. The floral envelope consists of six sepals, three of which are exterior : the stamens are six, inserted into the base of the calyx, and supported on filaments broadest towards the lower part: the pistils are three, with short styles and simple stigmas. The capsules are also three, oblong, yellowish, not exceeding four lines in length, with three cells, each containing two black, elongated, somewhat pointed seeds.

Qualities.-The seeds of sabadilla are inodorous, of a bitter acrid taste. They have been analysed by Pelletier and Caven-tou, and found to contain a gallate of Veratria; a peculiar odorous acid, which they have named Cevadic; elaine and stearine; wax; a yellow colouring matter: gum and lignin. But according to a subsequent analysis by M. Couerbe, sabadilla contains a distinct alkali, which he has denominated Sabadilline, crystallizing in white, six-sided, acicular prisms, acrid, fusible like a resinoid, soluble in water, very soluble in alcohol, but insoluble in ether, and capable of forming salts with sulphuric and hydrochloric acids. Couerbe also mentions a substance resembling a gum resin, which he names Monohydrate of Sabadalline, red, very soluble in water and alcohol, scarcely soluble in ether, capable of forming crystallizable salts with the acids, and precipitated from its solutions by the alkalies, without combining with them.

Medical properties and uses.-Sabadilla operates as a drastic cathartic with so much violence that it is scarcely ever internally administered: nevertheless Schmuker has given it in cases of taenia, and carried the dose of the powder to half a drachm. It is externally applied to destroy pediculi; yet, even in this mode of using it, if the scalp be denuded or ulcerated, vertigo, convulsions, and sometimes death, have followed its employment. Its introduction into the Pharmacopoeia is for obtaining Veratria. (See Part III.)

Officinal preparation.- Veratria, L.