THE MICROSCOPE. 



all 



The roots are collected at 

 pally from January to March, 

 packed in bales. About 15,000 

 States annually. 



seasons of the year, but princi- 

 They are dried in the sun and 

 lbs. are brought to the United 



Large quantities of the ipecac of com- 

 merce are damaged. They are in- 

 jured by sea-water and by being gathered 

 during the rainy season. The statement 

 has been made that over four-fifths of the 

 ipecac imported into England is damaged. 

 It is also badly mixed with inferior roots 

 both of the same and of other plants. 

 The most of the substituted roots are 

 nearly smooth, and non-annulated, others 

 are medulated, farinaceous, with white 

 woody cords. All are totally different 

 from the true root. Woody stems are also 

 frequently mixed with the roots. The 

 most of these substitutions under the 

 microscope possess a central pith. 



Powdered ipecac is of a light yellow- 

 gray color, with a peculiar bitter, nauseat- 

 ing taste, slightly acrid. It has a faint 

 musty odor ; much of the odor is probably 

 lost in the drying process. The wood is 

 almost tasteless. 



The microscopical structure of ipecac- 

 uanha is so characteristic, although quite 

 simple, as to be a sure means of identifica- 

 tion. 



There is first a single layer of tabular 

 cells, empty, flattened rather thick walled 

 and of a dark brown color. [Some 

 authors give several rows of these cells 

 and call them cork.* But the best author- 

 ity gives only one row. It is possible in 

 the preparation for market, the epidermis 



FIG. 2. Longitudinal section of 



Ipecacuanha root, x 60. together With some of the cork cells are 



♦Planchon, "Determination des DrogTjes Simples'" vol. i, p. 498, says "seven or eight rows 

 of cells form the outer cork." 



