which yield the Ipecacuanha of Commerce. 21 



Var. c^ Gray annulated ipecacuanha of Richard ; grayish' 

 tvhite or amylaceous ipecacuanha of Merat ; the larger anmilated 

 ipecacuanha of Guibourt. The epidermis is grayish- white ; the 

 rings are less prominent, not so irregular or numerous, and the 

 roots larger. Its fracture very resinous, and its bitterness greater 

 than in the first variety. This kind is seldom met with in com- 

 merce. Richard thinks it to be but a more mature root. Guibourt 

 has met with a variety, having all the characters of this one, ex- 

 C5ept the colour which was red. He calls it the red annulated ipe- 

 cacuanha. He thinks it was grown in a better soil. In choosing 

 ipecacuanha, we should select the larger and more compact roots, 

 breaking with a resinous fracture, and having a whitish-gray, some- 

 what semi-transparent or horny appearance on the inside of the 

 cortical part, with a pale straw-coloured meduUary fibre.* 



2. Striated ipecacuanha of Richard and Guibourt ; the striated 

 ox black ipecacuanha of Merat ; black ipecacuanha of most authors ; 

 the ash-grey glycyrrhized ipecacuanha of Lemery. This is the 

 root of the Psychotria emetica. It consists of cylindrical roots, 

 not so thick as the other species ; it is not annulated, but striated 

 longitudinally-fusiform. It has deep circular intersections at dis- 

 tances from each other, giving it the appearance of being articu- 

 lated ; and, when a force is applied, it fractures at this part. Ex- 

 ternally it has a dirty reddish-gray colour, acquiring a blackish 

 tinge as it becomes old. Its fracture is resinous, less compact than 

 the Callicoccas, of a grayish-black internally, especially when 

 moistened with the saliva. The central ligneous cord or Medi- 

 tullium is yellowish, and not so thick as the cortical layer, which is 

 soft j may be penetrated by the nail, and easily separated. The 

 Meditullium is perforated by numerous holes, visible by the aid of 

 a glass. Its smell and taste is feeble, its powder deep gray. 



3. Undulated ipecacuanha of Guibourt ; white ipecacuanha of 

 Merat, (not the while ipecacuanha of Lemery.) This, according 

 to Gomez, is the root of the liichardsonia Brasiliensis ; but Aug. 

 de St. Hilaire and Martins have rendered it probable that other 

 species of Richardsonia furnish it. The thickness of the root is 

 about the same as that of the Callicoccas, and generally less than 

 that of a goose quill, tortuous, attenuated at its extremities. It is 

 of a grayish-white colour externally. Dr. Duncan states that it 

 turns brown by drying. Like the annulated species it consists of 

 two parts, a thin medullary cord (Meditullium) and a cortical por- 

 tion. The latter at first appears to be annulated ; but, on exami- 

 nation, it is found that the grooves are only semi- circular, and do 

 not completely surround the root. Dr. Duncan informs us that 

 these rugosities are larger than in the Callicocca. When broken, 

 this root has a farinaceous, not at all a resinous appearance, and is 

 of a dull white colour. If we examine the fractured surface in a 

 strong light, we observe, particularly towards the circumference, 

 numerous shining pearly spots, which through the glass appear ele- 



• See Murray, Mat. Med. 



