CRUDE DRUGS. 509 



contains a reddish resin, several organic acids, as citric and malic, 

 and considerable starch. 



SCOPOLA. BELLADONNA SCOPOLIA. The dried 

 rhizome of Scopolia carjiiolica (Fam. Solanacese), a perennial 

 herb growing in the region of the Eastern Alps, Carpathian Moun- 

 tains and neighboring regions. 



Description. Rhizome horizontal, nearly cylindrical, some- 

 what tortuous, usually cut longitudinally into pieces 5 to 12 cm. 

 long, 7 to 15 mm. in diameter; externally grayish-brown, longi- 

 tudinally furrowed, slightly annulate, with numerous circular 

 stem-scars about 5 mm. in diameter, under portion with root- 

 scars and root-remnants ; fracture short, mealy ; internally whitish 

 or light grayish-brown, bark i mm. or less thick, wood slightly 

 radiate, rather large, horny pith ; odor slight ; taste starchy, sweet- 

 ish, afterward acrid. (Fig. 175a.) 



The roots, which are attached to the rhizome or in separate 

 pieces, are cylindrical, tapering, varying in diameter from 2 to 10 

 mm., longitudinally wrinkled, and marked by lenticular whitish 

 areas resembling lenticels. 



Constituents. About 0.6 per cent, of total alkaloids, includ- 

 ing atropine, hyoscyamine and scopolamine (hyoscine). Scopola- 

 mine is official as a hydrobromide, and exists in the drug to the 

 extent of 0.06 per cent. Scopolamine decomposes into scopoline 

 and atropic acid when treated with boiling baryta water. Scopo- 

 line resembles tropine, a principle formed from atropine and 

 hyoscyamine, when similarly treated (see Fig. 341). 



Allied Plants. Japanese belladonna is the rhizome of Sco- 

 polia japonica, growing in Japan, and closely related to S. carui- 

 olica. The drug resembles scopola and apparently contains the 

 same principles. The rhizomes of six other species of Scopolia 

 are also used. 



Scopolia Leaves are used in medicine like belladonna leaves, 

 and are said to be sometimes admixed with them. They are obo- 

 vate, slightly acuminate, and taper gradually into the rather long 

 petiole (p. 372; Fig. 273). 



COLCHICI CORMUS. COLCHICUM CORM. The corm 

 of Colchiciim autumnale (Fam. Liliaceae), a perennial bulbous 

 plant, native of and growing in moist meadows and pastures of 



