ACONITE 



215 



with slit-like, simple pores, sometimes with spiral or reticulate 

 thickenings or with bordered pores; stone cells (Fig. 95) single, 

 tabular, irregular in shape or elongated to fibers from 0.100 to 0.400 

 mm. in length, walls from 0.008 to 0.025 mm. in thickness, strongly 

 lignified and having large simple pores; fragments of cork few, 

 yellowish-brown; fragments of parenchyma numerous, the cells 

 being filled with starch grains; bast-fibers from stems few, very 



^ CD 



o 



FIG. 94. Aconite: T, tracheae with scalariform thickenings and bordered pores; 

 ST, stone cells; P, parenchyma with starch grains; S, starch grains; C, E, 

 cork. 



long, with lignified walls about 0.005 mm. in thickness, and marked 

 by transverse or oblique, slit-like pores. 



A qualitative test having some quantitative value in determining 

 the potency of powdered Aconite is as follows: 0.500 gm. of the 

 finely powdered aconite (containing 0.50 per cent of aconitine) is 

 mixed with 500 c.c. of water and shaken occasionally during the 

 course of five minutes. A few cubic centimeters of the filtered solu- 

 tion, if swallowed, produces a distinct and characteristic sensation 

 in the throat. 



