180-3 
Sophistication.—The pollen of some plants, such as the cat-tail (7ypha lat- 
Jolia); pine (various species of Pinus); spruce (Aédzes), and hemlock (Abies 
Canadensis), are often mixed fraudulently with the powder, the inicroscope alone 
being able to detect the imposition.* Starch, when incorporated with the powder, 
may be detected by iodine; and talc, gypsum, and chalk may be discovered by 
throwing the powder into water, or bisulphide of carbon; boxwood powder may 
be separated by the use of a fine sieve that will allow the spores to pass and 
retain the wood. However, the Lycopodium of commerce, which is mostly gath- 
ered in Russia, Germany, and Switzerland, is usually quite pure. 
To obtain an efficacious tincture of Lycopodium, a previous severe trituration 
for hours, first dry and then with the addition of sufficient alcohol to form a paste, 
is necessary; then five parts, by weight, of alcohol is added, the whole poured into 
a well-stoppered bottle, and allowed to stand for eight days in a dark, cool place, 
being thoroughly shaken twice a day. The tincture, separated by straining and 
filtering, has a clear straw-color by transmitted light; an oily odor and taste; and 
a neutral reaction. 
CHEMICAL CONSTITUENTS.—Analyses made by Buchholtz and Cadet 
determined the presence of fat oil 6.0, sugar 3.0, gum 1.5, pollenin 89.5, this last 
being a mixed body. Stenhouse determined the presence of volatile bases, which 
were corroborated by Fliickiger, who also determined that the ash was not alka- 
line, and contained alumina and phosphoric acid. 
Oil of Lycopodium.—tThis bland liquid, of which Buchholtz found only 6 per 
cent., was determined by Fliickiger to exist in large amount (47.0 per cent.) when 
the spores are ruptured. It does not solidify, even at — 15° (+ 5° F.). 
[Lycopodine, C,,H,,.N,O,—This alkaloid, isolated by K. Boedecker+ from an 
aqueous solution of the alcoholic extract of ZL. complanatum, Linn., may prove to 
exist also in this species. He describes it as a bitter, crystalline body, melting at 
114° (237.2° F.), and freely soluble in many liquids, including alcohol and water. ] 
PHYSIOLOGICAL ACTION.—The experiments with this drug by Dr. Arnold, 
of Heidelberg, with the tincture, and by Prof. Martin, of Jena, and six of his pupils, 
gave the following: The general symptoms were those of excitement, quickened 
circulation, headache, increased appetite, more frequent evacuations, and stronger 
sexual desire. The chief local affinity manifested was for the urinary organs. 
There was frequent and sometimes painful micturition; and the urine was cloudy 
and sedimentous, occasionally charged with mucus and even blood. This mostly 
covers the so-called physiological action, though, when long-continued doses of the 
more highly potentized drug are taken, the scope of this remedy is immeasurably | 
enlarged.§ 
* See Fig. 11, Plate 163, and Fig. 9, Plate 164. 
+ Ann. de Chim., 208, 363. 
t Am. Four. Phar., 1882, 77. 
3 Consult 4//en’s Encyclopedia of Pure Materia Medica, vol. 6, pp. 1-69. 
