594 



SCIENTIFIC AND APPLIED PHARMACOGNOSY 



stem-scars about 5 mm. in diameter, under portion with root-scars 

 and root-remnants; fracture short, mealy; internally whitish or light 

 grayish-brown, bark 1 mm. or less in thickness, wood slightly radiate, 

 pith rather large, horny; odor slight; taste starchy, sweetish, acrid. 



The roots, which are attached to the rhizome or in separate pieces, 

 are cylindrical, tapering, varying in diameter from 2 to 10 mm., 

 longitudinally wrinkled, and marked by lenticular, whitish areas, 

 resembling lenticels. 



INNER STRUCTURE. See Fig. 253. 



FIG. 254. Scopolamine hydrobromide: Crystal aggregates from an alcoholic 



solution. 



Constituents. About 0.6 per cent of total alkaloids, including 

 atropine, hyoscyamine and scopolamine (hyoscine). Scopolamine 

 is official as a hydrobromide (Fig. 254), and exists in the drug to the 

 extent of 0.06 per cent. Scopolamine decomposes into scopoline and 

 atropic acid when treated with boiling baryta water. Scopoline 

 resembles tropine, a principle formed from atropine and hyoscyamine, 

 when similarly treated. 



Scopolia Leaves (Fig. 252) are used in medicine like belladonna 

 leaves, and are said to be sometimes admixed with them. They are 

 obovate, slightly acuminate, and taper gradually into the rather long 

 petiole. The calyx lobes are relatively short, and the capsular 



