YELLOW JESSAMINE 



519 



clinic prisms, from 0.015 to 0.030 mm. in diameter. In the powder of 

 the overground stem collenchymatous cells, containing chloroplastids, 

 are present. 



The following test is rather expeditious in obtaining an approxi- 

 mate idea of the quantitative value of the drug. One gramme of 

 the finely powdered gelsemium is mixed with 10 c.c. of a modified 



FIG. 217. Transverse section of rhizome of gelsemium: K, cork; C, cortex; 

 WF, wood fibers; T, tracheae; MR, medullary rays; Ph, intraxylary phloem. 



Prollius fluid and allowed to macerate for from four to twenty-four 

 hours. The solution is filtered into a small separatory funnel and 

 5 c.c. of dilute sulphuric acid (0.5 per cent) added, and after separa- 

 tion of the aqueous solution the latter is diluted with 5 c.c. of water. 

 A few drops of this separated solution (1 drop = 0.0000175 

 gramme alkaloids), containing the alkaloids, when treated with 

 the following reagents, should cause the rections noted : 



