8 AMERICAN MEDICINAL LEAVES AND HEEBS. 



other plants as may have been accidentally cut with them. Stems 

 should be discarded as much as possible, and where a leaf is composed 

 of several leaflets these are usually detached from the stems. 



In gathermg herbs only the flowering tops and leaves and the 

 more tender stems should be taken, the coarse and large stems bemg 

 rejected. All withered, diseased, or discolored portions should be 

 removed from both leaves and herbs. 



In order that they may retain their bright-green color and char- 

 acteristic odor after drying, leaves and herbs must be carefully dried 

 in the shade, allowing the air to circulate freely but keeping out all 

 moisture; dampness will darken them, and they must therefore be 

 placed under cover at night or in rainy weather. A bright color is 

 desirable, as such a product wiU sefl more readily. 



To dry them the leaves and herbs should be spread out thinly on 

 clean racks or shelves and turned frequently until thoroughly dry. 

 They readily absorb moisture and when perfectly cured should be 

 stored in a dry place. 



Leaves and herbs generally become very brittle when they are dry 

 and must be very .carefully packed to cause as little crushing as pos- 

 sible. They should be firmly packed in sound burlap or gunny sacks 

 or in dry, clean boxes or barrels. Before shipping the goods, how^ever, 

 good-sized representative samples of the leaves and herbs to be dis- 

 posed of should be sent to drug dealers for their inspection, together 

 with a letter stating how large a quantity the coUector has to sell. 



With the changes in prices that are constantly taking place in the 

 drug market it is, of course, impossible to give definite prices 'in this 

 paper, and only approximate quotations are therefore included in 

 order that the collector may form some idea concerning the possible 

 range of prices. Only through correspondence with drug dealers can 

 the actual price then prevailing be ascertained. 



PLANTS FURNISHING MEDICINAL LEAVES AND HERBS. 



Each section contains synonyms, the pharmacopoeial name (if any), 

 the common names, habitat, range, descriptions, and information 

 concerning the collection, prices, and uses of the plants. 



The medicinal uses are referred to in a general way only, since it is 

 not within the province of a publication of this kind to give detailed 

 information in regard to such mattei-s. Advice concerning tlie proper 

 remedies to use should be sought only from physicians. The state- 

 ments made in this paper as to medicinal uses are based on informa- 

 tion contained in various dispensatories and other works relating to 

 materia medica. 



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