6 



POWDERED VEGETABLE DRUGS 



Since 1880 a number of American investigators, have been doing 

 energetic work in the critical study of vegetable drugs. Of these we 

 will mention only a few. Sayre and Dohme have made investigations 

 on the histology of vegetable drugs, and the results have been pub- 

 lished in the " Druggists' Circular" and the "American Journal of 

 Pharmacy" and other publications. Most of the papers are accom- 

 panied by illustrations from pen and ink draw- 

 ings, which are as a rule poor and not in full 

 harmony with the merits of the work done. 

 There are a number of investigators who have 

 done very excellent occasional work in the 

 study of vegetable drugs. Of these we may 

 mention Schlotterbeck, van Zwaluwenberg, 

 -Denniston, Grace Cooley, Nelson, Breithaupt, 

 and others. 



Within recent years several American in- 

 vestigators have devoted special attention to 

 the histological characteristics of powdered 

 ^ n vegetable drugs and their adulterants. 



In speaking of the American work on the 

 histology of crude and powdered drugs we 

 must not forget the influence exerted by Re- 

 search Committee "C" of the Committee of 

 Revision of the United States Pharmacopoeia, 

 of which Dr. H. H. Rusby, of New York, was 

 the chairman. This committee selected a num- 

 ber of investigators and gave them some finan- 

 cial support in the investigation of specially as- 

 FIG. 5 Dellabarre's ^S 116 ^ histological studies of vegetable drugs, 

 compound microscope Much of the best work of recent years has been 

 (1778). done under the auspices of this committee. 



a, body or tube; b, It has accomplished some very important re- 

 stage, adjustable; c, sub- suits with reference to the special histology of 

 stage condenser; d, dmgg and the detection of adulterants, and 



also has proven a very important educational 



factor. 



Let us consider very briefly the general results which have followed 

 the use of the microscope in pharmacy. First of all it has caused a 

 very marked reduction in the adulteration of vegetable drugs, of 

 powdered drugs in particular. A properly trained and equipped mod- 

 ern pharmacist can readily detect the sophistication of powdered drugs, 

 of ground spices and of crude drugs. Sophisticators have gradually 



base or tripod. 



