xxii INTRODUCTORY 



cultivation, or they may have been introduced with the seeds of 

 cultivated plants or with the ballast of ships. 



The term commercial origin applies solely to the drugs them- 

 selves, and indicates their commercial source, which may be either 

 the country where the plant yielding the drug is grown, or the port 

 from which the drug is sent into the marts of the world. English 

 hyoscyamus leaves are gathered from plants grown in England; 

 Canton rhubarb is the product of plants grown in various parts of 

 China, but shipped by way of Canton. 



The official or pharmacopoeial titles of vegetable drugs are 

 derived from either the generic name of the plant, as gelsemium, 

 or the specific name, as ipecacuanha, or they may include both the 

 generic and specific names, as viburnum prunifolium, or they may 

 be derived from other sources, as opium and sarsaparilla. 



In addition to the botanical names of plants and the pharma- 

 copceial titles of drugs, a number of vernacular names and syno- 

 nyms are also applied to vegetable drugs, as licorice root for glycr- 

 rhiza, prickly ash for xanthoxylum. 



The official or pharmacopoeial definition of drugs is given in the 

 leading paragraph under each drug in the different pharmacopoeias, 

 and includes the botanical origin as well as the name of the part of 

 the plant yielding the drug; and in some cases other special features 

 or requirements are given, as the habitat of the plant yielding the 

 drug, the time of collection, mode of preservation, etc. 



The time of the collection of vegetable drugs is of prime impor- 

 tance, and, while we may not be able to make extended generalizations, 

 still, the following general rules for the collection of various drugs 

 may be given : 



(1) Roots, rhizomes and barks should be collected immedi- 

 ately before the vegetative processes begin in the spring, or imme- 

 diately after these processes cease, which is usually in the fall. 



(2) Leaves should be collected when photosynthesis is most 

 active, which is usually about the time of the development of the 

 flowers and before the maturing of fruit and seed. 



(3) Flowers should be collected prior to or just about the time of 

 pollination. 



(4) Fruits should be collected near the ripening period, i.e., 

 when full grown but unripe. 



(5) Seeds should be collected when fully matured. 



The preservation of vegetable drugs is likewise deserving of 

 careful consideration, and attention should be given to the influence 

 of temperature, moisture, air and light, and the attacks of insects. 



