THE AMERICAN 



MONTHLY 



MICROSCOPICAL JOURNAL. 



Vol. XVIII. MAY, 1896. No. 5 



A New Adulteration of Senega Root. 



By C. HARTWICH. 

 [with frontispiece.] 



In the early part of 1894, Ad. Andree, in Hanover^ 

 drew atteution to an interesting adulteration found in 

 senega root imported from New York, the drug contain- 

 ing nearly 25 percent of a foreign root which he referred 

 to Eichardsonia scabra. The structure of the drug^ 

 however, showed this identification to be incorrect; the 

 starch in the two roots differed in character, and in the 

 Richardsonia the oxalate of calcium assumed the form of 

 raphides, whilst in the adulteration referred to it is pre- 

 sent as cluster crystals. Hartwich believes the root to be 

 that of Triosteum perfoliatum., L., Caprifoliacea^ which 

 has recently appeared as ipecacuanha. Externally the 

 roots showed the greatest similarity, and the histological 

 and chemical examination proved their identity. 



Triosteu7n 'perfuliatam is indigenous to the eastern and 

 southeastern United States, and might tlierefore easily 

 be collected with senega, although the two plants ar& 

 very different in appearance. Triosteum is a scrub with 

 a thick knotty rhizome, from which arise several stems 

 reaching nearly three feet in height; it is known in 

 America as tinker's weed, bastard ipecac, etc., and is 

 used somewhat extensively as an antipyretic, purgative 

 and emetic. 



The drug consists of a yellowish-brown or dark-brown 

 bent, knotty rhizome, to the sides and under surface of 



