Emetin

Emetin is the alkaloid which forms the active principle of ipecacuanha-root. It may be obtained by drying the powdered root-bark with milk of lime, and then exhausting with boiling chloroform. It is a white powder, becoming brown on exposure to light, slightly soluble in water, but readily in alcohol. When taken internally, it exhibits violent emetic properties, $\backslash frac\{1\}\{25\}$th of a grain sufficing to cause vomiting. The wood of the root contains no emetin, so that the virtue of ipecacuanha-root entirely resides in the bark.