CRUDE DRUGS. 



693 



Ustilago (corn smut) ; it occurs in irreg-ular, somewhat cylindrical 

 or globose masses from 10 to 15 cm. in diameter (Fig. 22), con- 

 sisting of a whitish membrane, becoming dark with age, and a 

 brownish-black mass of spores, which are nearly spherical and 

 about 7 ix in diameter (Fig. 23). The drug has a heavy odor 

 and a disagreeable taste. Ustilago should be carefully dried and 

 not kept longer than one year. Corn Smut contains a crystalliz- 

 able alkaloid, ustilagine, which is soluble in water and alcohol 

 and forms crystalline salts; from 0.5 to 5.5 per cent, of a crys- 

 tallizable acid substance, maizenic acid, which resembles sclerotic 



Fig. 278b. Spores of various species of Lycopodium. A, B, reticulated spores ot 

 Lycopodium davatum; C, D, spores of L. phyllanthum marked by pores;' E, F, spinous 

 spores of L. densuni; G, H, J, spores of L. inundatum with wavy reticulations. After Pritzel. 



acid; about 1.5 per cent, of a volatile base resembling trimethyla- 

 mine ; 2.5 to 6.5 per cent, of a dark brown, fixed oil, insoluble in 

 alcohol and having the odor of the drug ; about 8 per cent, of two 

 resins, one being soluble in alcohol and the other in ether; 3.75 

 per cent, of a non-reducing sugar which crystallizes in needles ; 

 and yields 4.5 per cent, of ash. 



LYCOPODIUM. The spores of Lycopodium clavafum, and 

 of other species of Lycopodium (Fam. Lycopodiacese), perennial 

 herbs (Fig. 46) indigenous to Europe. xA.sia, North America and 

 Central America. The spores are obtained from the ripened 

 cones by shaking the fruiting tops (sporogonia) and the extrane- 



