16 



SCIENTIFIC AND APPLIED PHARMACOGNOSY 



of corn smut, ovoid and about 0.005 mm. to 0.007 mm. in 

 diameter. 



Constituents. Corn Smut contains a crystallizable alkaloid, 

 ustilagine, which is soluble in water and alcohol and forms crystalline 

 salts; from 0.5 to 5.5 per cent of a crystallizable acid substance, 

 maizenic acid, which resembles sclerotic acid; about 1.5 per cent of a 

 volatile base resembling trimethylamine; 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 



FIG. 5. Polyporus officinalis Fr., showing the annular increments and at the 

 basal portion the numerous characteristic small pores. It grows on the 

 larch trees of Europe and Asia, which countries furnish the commercial 

 article. It is also found on the larch, pine and spruce trees of Michigan 

 Montana, California, and British Columbia. Some specimens are quite 

 large and weigh as much as 15 pounds in the dry state. After Hennings in 

 Engler and Prantl's "Die natiirlichen Pflanzenfamilien." 



the other in ether; 3.75 per cent of a non-reducing sugar which crys- 

 tallizes in needles, and yields 4.5 per cent of ash. 



AGARICUS. White Agaric, Larch Agaric. The dried fungus 

 Polyporus officinalis (Vill.) Fries (Fam. Polyporacese). (Fig. 5.) 

 The commercial supplies are obtained from the mountainous regions 



