698 SCIENTIFIC AND APPLIED PHARMACOGNOSY 



sections of the petiole are somewhat arrow-shaped, showing 2 to 4 

 layers of sub-epidermal collenchyma and from 8 to 10 fibrovascular 

 bundles; the stems show a strong development of collenchyma at 

 the ribs, and the fibrovascular bundles are arranged in a closed ring, 

 each being surrounded by a strong development of stereome, pith 

 hollow; woolly hairs of the stems and petioles very long thin-walled 

 and from 0.015 to 0.040 mm. in width; non-glandular hairs on the 

 leaves few, uniseriate about 0.250 mm. in length, and consisting of 

 5 or 6 short, cylindrical cells, having thin walls and an oily content; 

 achenes covered with club-shaped or spatulate hairs, about 0.180 mm. 

 in length and finely transversely or obliquely striate; pappus multi- 

 cellular, having at the jointed portions, short, sharp-pointed cells. 



Constituents. The drug has not been subject to any careful 

 investigation, but it may contain principles similar to those found in 

 Senecio Jacobsea (see Allied Plants). 



Allied Plants. Senecio Jacobaea, indigenous to Europe and 

 Asia and localized to some extent in the New England States and 

 Canada, somewhat resembles Senecio aureus. It contains about 

 10 per cent of a mixture of glucosides, senecionin and senecin; 2.5 

 per cent of a volatile oil ; 0.98 per cent of a fatty substance, soluble 

 in ether; 0.88 per cent of a mixture of fatty acids; and 0.8 per cent 

 of ash. 



Literature. Altan, Pharm. Post, 1906, p. 485. 



Lactucarium. The dried milk-juice of Lactuca virosa and other 

 species of Lactuca (Fam. Compositse) , biennial herbs largely indigen- 

 ous to central and southern Europe and cultivated in France, Eng- 

 land and Germany, certain species being more or less naturalized in 

 the United States. Lactucarium is obtained by cutting off the tops 

 of the stems; and when the latex which exudes is partially hard- 

 ened, it is collected and dried in hemispherical earthen cups until it 

 can be cut into pieces, which are usually four in number, these being 

 further dried. 



Description. In irregular, angular pieces or quadrangular sec- 

 tions, one surface of which is convex; externally dull reddish- or gray- 

 ish-brown; fracture tough, waxy; internally light brown or yellow- 

 ish, somewhat porous; odor distinct, opium-like; taste bitter. 



Lactucarium is partly soluble in alcohol and in ether, and about 

 50 per cent is soluble in water, but the solution should not give a 

 reaction for starch. 



Powder. Grayish-brown and dark brown, irregular and rather 

 angular masses; with alkalies they become reddish-brown and then 

 a dirty brown; with sulphuric acid they are but slightly affected. 



