42^ BOTANY AND PHARMACOGNOSY. 



In some drugs a sort of ripening process takes place in the 

 drying, as in gentian, guarana, vanilla and the solanaceous leaf 

 drugs. In still others a marked deterioration takes place if they 

 are placed in heaps and allowed to ferment, as in the case of laven- 

 der and most other drugs yielding essential oils. In the prepara- 

 tion of oil of peppermint, the yield of oil is greater and the quality 

 better if the plants are allowed to dry and are distilled immediately 

 or soon after. On the other hand, the yield of methyl salicylate is 

 greater in the leaves of Gaulthcria procumhcns or the bark of 

 Betiila lenta if they are first macerated in water for about 12 hours. 



Quite a number of drugs are not infrequently observed in com- 

 merce in a moldy condition, as taraxacum, veratrum, aconite, 

 maranta starch, etc. The question as to what influence this mold 

 has on the quality of the drug has not been decided. 



A third cause of inferiority of vegetable drugs is lack of suf- 

 ficient care in garbling. This applies to a number of drugs, as 

 leaves, with which may be admixed a large number of stems and 

 roots ; rhizomes and tubers, in which the proportion of stem- 

 remnants may be excessive, or, as in other cases, the proportion 

 of roots to rhizomes may be large. The roots contain much less 

 of the active principles, and have been found in cypripedium and 

 hydrastis to the extent of 50 per cent. 



A fourth factor influencing the quality of drugs is the manner 

 OF PRESERVATION. While it is generally conceded that most drugs 

 deteriorate on keeping, still this depends largely upon the manner 

 in which they are kept. Thus, the Pharmacopoeia limits the time 

 of keeping of ergot and states how it shall be preserved; yet a 

 number of writers call attention to the fact that, if properly pre- 

 pared and preserved, the time of keeping may be very much 

 extended. In order to preserve ergot, Grover proposed the removal 

 of the oil, and Moss found the drug thus treated to retain its 

 therapeutic value for six and a half years. Zanon suggests plac- 

 ing the drug in alternate layers with sand and keeping it in a 

 closely sealed jar. Others grind the fresh ergot and preserve 

 with chloroform in paraffin paper, while some first extract the 

 oil from the powder with alcohol or ether. 



Accidental admixture in the store or warehouse depends upon 

 the care of the individual, and need not receive attention here. 



