GENERAL PRINCIPLES AND RULES xxiii 



The temperature of the room or part of the store devoted to the 

 storage of dry drugs should not be more than about 25 C., and 

 maintained nearly uniform throughout the year. 



Drugs containing volatile principles require to be kept in air- 

 tight containers, as the herbs of the Labiatse and Composite, and 

 wild-cherry bark. Air-tight tin cans are probably the most eco- 

 nomical and satisfactory containers for the purpose, and the sug- 

 gestion has been made to coat the edges of the cans with melted 

 paraffin. Drugs are sometimes stored in wooden boxes or in drawers. 

 This method is objectionable, not only because they are more liable 

 to deteriorate, but because the odors are communicable from one to 

 the other. The storage of drugs in parcels is the most objectionable, 

 particularly, as is usually the case, when the different parcels are 

 stored together. 



Those drugs that are difficult to dry, as the inulin-containing 

 drugs, and some fleshy roots and rhizomes, as Veratrum, are liable 

 to become moldy and should be thoroughly dried before placing them 

 permanently in containers. 



The preservation of drugs against the attacks of insects is, unfor- 

 tunately, generally overlooked. Most drugs are subject to their 

 depredations, and are usually attacked by the insects in the larval 

 stage. The insects which infest vegetable drugs belong chiefly to 

 the Lepidoptera, Coleoptera and Diptera. The Lepidoptera are 

 the most destructive, and include the cornmeal moth (Tinea zea), 

 which, during its larval (the caterpillar or grub) stage, is known to 

 attack aconite, capsicum, ergot, lappa, linseed, rhubarb, taraxacum 

 and many other drugs. Among the Coleoptera are various members 

 of the Ptinedse, as Ptinus brunneus, Anobium paniceum and Lasio- 

 derma serricorne, which attack the spices chiefly, as capsicum, cin- 

 namon and pimenta. Chief among the Diptera is Trypeta arnicivora, 

 which is sometimes found in the receptacles of arnica flowers. 



For the destruction of these insects and prevention of their attacks 

 a number of substances and methods have been employed, the sim- 

 plest method of all being to expose the drug to a temperature of about 

 65 C. This method is probably the most efficient in not only pre- 

 venting insect attacks, but all other forms of deterioration. Camphor 

 and tar-camphor have been employed, but it is doubtful if. they should 

 be used, unless in the case of animal drugs. In some instances, as 

 with nutmeg and ginger, the drug is sprinkled in the drying-room, or 

 when packed for market, with quicklime. Benzin and carbon disul- 

 phide have been proposed, but these are of a disagreeable odor as 

 well as inflammable. Ether has been suggested, but it is very vola- 



