ADULTERATION OR SOPHISTICATION OF VEGETABLE DRUGS 67 



organic matter, clings to all subterranean plant organs. This makes 

 it evident that some sand will be found upon many crude drugs and 

 mixed with the powders made from them, as there is no means of 

 removing it entirely, even with the most careful washing and winnow- 

 ing. We would naturally expect to find more sand with the powders 

 of roots, rhizomes and tubers; less with barks, and still less with most 

 herbs, flowers and fruits. It should be wanting in powders of peeled 

 barks, of woods, of peeled roots, rhizomes, tubers and seeds. 



2. Dirt, Clay, Lime. Not infrequently collectors leave enough 

 dirt attached to subterranean plant organs as to amount to adultera- 

 tion, as, for instance, Mexican sarsaparilla and many of the roots and 

 rhizomes collected in the United States. Clay is sometimes added to 

 powders (goa powder). Valerian is very likely to contain an excess of 

 clay. Lime is not intentionally added, but it will be found in powders 

 made from limed crude drugs, as iris, ginger and nutmeg. 



3. Substances Much Used for Purposes of Adulteration. 



To enumerate all of the substances which may be used for the 

 purpose of adulterating powdered spices and vegetable drugs is 

 impossible. There are, however, certain substances which are used 

 more than others and these should receive especial consideration and 

 study. Based upon many years of experience in the microscopical 

 examination of the class of substances named, the following materials 

 are given as being most commonly employed for the purpose of 

 adulteration. 



1. Ground olive pits and nut shells. 



2. Ground coco nut shells. 



3. Clove stems and allspice stems. 



4. Peanut shells. 



5. Cereals (roasted, ground and broken), wheat flour, rye flour, 

 barley flour. 



6. Corn meal, corn starch, corn cobs. 



7. Sand. Small pebbles. 



8. Dirt, clay. 



9. Mallow leaves. Willow leaves. 



10. Beans and peas. 



11. Curcuma. 



12. Milling refuse and screenings. 



13. Trimmings, fragments, etc. 



Microscopically these substances are quite readily recognizable and 

 the student is advised to secure samples of the materials listed and to 

 make a careful microscopical examination of them. It may be stated 



