ee COMPOSITA. 
Microscopic structure.—Flickiger in his pamphlet, “ Die 
Frankfurter Liste,” Halle, 1873, p. 25, has shown that the root ;. 
abounds in inulin, and shows, especially in the bark of the 
branches of the root, large balsam ducts. In both these 
respects Costus root agrees well with Elecampane and other 
aromatic roots of the Composite. <A microscopic examination ~ 
shows that the root consists of two parts, viz., a thick cortical 
layer of close texture, pervaded by a few laticiferous ducts and — 
an inner radiating portion, the parenchyma of which is not so 
dense, This is also provided with laticiferous ducts, and a very 
abundant scalariform vascular system, which. appears to be = 
loaded with resinous matter. We have not been able to detect = 
any starch, nor does the iodine test indicate its presence. 
Adulieration.—The natives of Cashmere say that this drug | 
is apt to be adulterated with five or six: other kinds of roots. 
A sample of false Costus in the Indian Museum, under the 
name of Kut mitha, examined by Cooke, was found to consist 
of pieces of a Syhndiee root from 1 to 3 inches in length and 
from ¢ to 13 inch in thickness; externally it was nearly 
siipoth: or longitudinally striate ak transverse paler scars. 
It was much lighter and less compact than Costus, — friable 
and farinaceous internally, very much subject to attacks from : 
insects, with little or no apparent odour or taste, and con- -_ 
taining a large quantity of starch, the grannles of which were 
variable in size, and attached to each other in twos and threes. _ 
: 
: 
| 
3 
In 1859, a communication was made to the - -Agri-Horticultural _ 
Society of India of two roots, one called Kit and the other Thith. 
They were from the hills of that part of the Kangra district © 
which borders on Chumba. The “ Kit” was identified as the 
“ Costus,” and the other was believed by Dr, Thompson to be 
the root of Salvia lanata, which was said to be common also in - 
Cashmere, where it is used to adulterate “ Kt.” Subsequently 
Mr. H. Cope of Umritsar contributed some remarks’ to the 
same Rosey on the adulterations of this drug. “This adul- 
teration,” he says, “is now (1860) carried to such a pitch © 
with the assistance not only of the tut (which so closely resem - 
bles the genuine article in every respect but its susie: that 
