48o BOTANY AND PHARMACOGNOSY. 



drug (Fig. 309). Indian aconite, the product of Aconitum ferox, 

 is a much larger root and somewhat horny, owing to the gela- 

 tinization of the starch in its preparation for market. 



A very large number of species of Aconitum are used medi- 

 cinally. These may be brought into five groups : ( i ) Those con- 

 taining the alkaloid aconitine, as Aconitum Napcllus; (2) those 

 containing pseudaconitine, which, while it resembles in some of 

 its properties aconitine, is not chemically identical with it. and 

 is found in the Indian aconite obtained from A. ferox, A. 

 luridmu and A. palmatum; (3) those containing the alkaloid, 

 japaconitine, which closely resembles pseudaconitine and is found 

 in Japanese aconite, obtained from A. Fischeri; (4) those which 

 contain the narcotic bases, lycaconitine and myoctonine, found in 

 A. lycoctormm of Asia and Europe; (5) those yielding lappaco- 

 nitine, a powerful alkaloid occurring in A. septentrionalc, a nearly 

 related species to A. lycocfonvm. 



Aconite leaves, the dried leaves (Fig. 141) of Aconitum 

 Napellns, are extensively used (p. 268). The constituents resem- 

 ble those of the tuber and the amount of aconitine varies from 

 0.25 to 0.50 per cent. The ash is about 16 per cent. In Great 

 Britain the fresh or recently dried leaves are largely employed. 



GELSEMIUM. YELLOW JESSAMINE, YELLOW JAS- 

 MINE. The dried rhizome and roots of Gelseinium sempcr- 

 virens (Fam. Loganiacese), a smooth, perennial climber of 

 the Southern United States and Guatemala (p. 362). The drug 

 should be collected in autumn. 



Description. Rhizome horizontal, cylindrical, usually cut 

 into pieces 9 to 20 cm. long, 4 to 15 mm. in diameter; externally 

 light brown, longitudinally wrinkled, transversely fissured; upper 

 surface with few stem-scars ; under and side portions with numer- 

 ous roots and root-scars ; fracture tough, wiry ; internally light 

 brown or pale yellow, bark about i mm. thick, wood distinctly 

 radiate, excentral, with four groups of internal phloem, pith dis- 

 integrated ; odor slight ; taste bitter. 



Inner Structure. See Figs. 208, 208a. 



Roots light brown, 3 to 20 cm. long, 2 to 8 mm. thick; inter- 

 nally light yellow, bark about 0.5 mm. thick, wood distinctly 

 radiate. 



