VERATRUM

(Lat.), n. n. Ve2r(war)-aat(ast)'ru3m(rum). Fr., veratre. veratrum. Ger.,Germer. False hellebore; a genus of the Veratreae, which are a tribe of the LiliacecK. [a, 35.] Decoctum veratri. Fr., decoction (ou hydrole) d'ellebore blanc. A preparation made by boiling 39 parts of white hellebore in 946 parts of water until reduced one half, then straining and adding 61 parts of alcohol. [B, 119 (a, 38).] Extractum veratri virid is fluidum [U. S. Ph.]. A preparation made by exhausting 100 grammes of V. viride with alcohol in a percolator, reserving 90 c. c., evaporating the residue to a soft extract, mixing the two, and bringing up to 100 c. c. [B, 5, 93 (a, 38).] Infusum veratri alb i [Ru . Ph.]. A preparation made by treating 18 centigrammes of white hellebore over the water-bath for five minutes with water enough to make 30 grammes of strained infusion. [B, 95 (a, 38).] Radix veratri. 1. The root of Helleborus niger. [a, 35.] 2. Of the Ger. Ph., see under V. album. Rhizouia veratri (alb i). Fr., hellebore blanc (souche) [Fr. Cod.]. Sp., eleboro bianco, vedegambre (rizoma) [Sp. Ph.]. The rhizome of V. album. [B. 95 (a, 38).] Rhizoma veratri alb i pulver a tum. White hellebore-root cleansed, dried at 40 C., powdered in an iron mortar, and sifted through a No. 120 silk sieve [Fr. Cod.] (through a 1,000-mesh sieve [Ru . Ph.]) [B, 95 (a, 38).] Tinctura veratri [Ger. Ph., Swi Ph.] (alb i [Austr. Ph., Belg. Ph., Ru . Ph.]). Fr., teinture d'hellebore blanc [Fr. Cod.]. A tincture made by macerating or digesting the rhizome of white hellebore in 5 (10 [Ger. Ph., Ru . Ph.]) times as much dilute alcohol. [B, 95 (a, 38).] Tinctura veratri virid is. A tincture made by treating 1 part of the rhizome of V. viride in No. 60 powder with alcohol enough to make 2 parts by percolation after one day's maceration [U. S. Ph.]; or 4 oz. of the rhizome in No. 40 powder with alcohol enough to make 20 fluid oz. after two days' maceration [Br. Ph.]; or 1 part of the rhizome with 5 parts of dilute alcohol [Hung. Ph., Isted.]. [B, 95 (o, 38).] V. album. Fr., veratrum (ou veratre) blanc, varaire. Ger., wei er Germer, u-ei e Niesicurz, 1. Langwort, lyngwort, white hellebore; a native of the mountainous regions of Europe and northern and middle Asia. It has the acrid, poisonous properties of V. viride, and probably in greater degree. The fleshy root-stock (radix veratri [Ger. Ph.], v. album [U. S. Ph., 1870]) occurs in cylindrical or sub conical, rough pieces, more or le beset with the remains of roots. It is a general stimulant to the secretions, but is now rarely used, except in scabies, etc.. and by the veterinarians. It was formerly used in dropsy, mania, epilepsy, leprosy, etc. It contains, according to Wright and Luff, jervine, rubijervine, pseudojervine. veratralbine, and traces of a sternutatory alkaloid. It does not contain veratrine (Maisch). [a, 35.] 2. Of theU. S. Ph., see under 1st def. V. frigidum. A Mexican species. The rhizome closely resembles that of V. album, and has like properties, [o, 35.] V. lobelianum. Ger., LobeVs Germer. A variety (by some considered a distinct species) of V. album found in southern and middle Europe, [a, 35.] V. nigrum. 1. The Helleborus niger and other species of Helleborus. 2. A species found in central and southern Europe. Its rhizome is substituted for that of V. album, but is smaller and le active, [a, 35.] V. of ficin ale. See SCHXENOCAULON offlcinale. V. sabadilla. A species indigenous to Mexico, the West Indies, and (according to some) China. It resembles V. album, and is said, probably erroneously, to furnish a portion of the cevadilla-seed of commerce, [o, 35.] V. viride. Fr., veratrum (ou veratre) vert. Ger., griiner Germer. 1. American (or swamp-) hellebore, Indian poke, poke-root, itch-weed, a variety, according to Hanbury, of V. album, but usually regarded as a distinct species, growing in the United States and Canada. The acrid rhizome (the v. viride of the U. S. Ph.), a powerful spinal and arterial depre ant, Is from an inch to three inches long, obtuse at the end, externally of a dark-brown color, and beset with yellowish roots marked with numerous indentations; in the shops it occurs in small fragments or transverse slices or discs of a buff, brownish, or whitish color. By the early colonists it was used as a purgative, antiscorbutic, and insecticide, but it is now employed as a cardiac, arterial, and nervous sedative. It is said not to be narcotic and rarely to cause purging, [a, 35.] 2. Of the U. S. Ph., see under 1st def. VERBAL I/T (Ger.). adj. Fear-balt'. Inflamed and stiff as a result of continued pre ure. [L, 30 (a, 14).] [s. 704]