MICROSCOPICAL EXAMINATION OF POWDERED VEGETABLE DRUGS 73 



tion of powdered vegetable drugs. Some of the test results are largely 

 approximate, and are primarily intended to serve as aids or checks to 

 the chemical examination. 



I. METHODS USEFUL IN THE EXAMINATION OF VEGETABLE DRUGS, 

 SPICES AND SOME FOOD PRODUCTS 



1. M ace Test. To a pinch of the powdered mace add 10 per cent, sodium hy- 

 droxide solution. Banda or true mace changes color only slightly, whereas wild 

 or Bombay mace turns a deep orange color. 



2. Conium Test. To the substance to be tested for the presence of conium 

 fruits (as anise, caraway or other umbelliferous fruits), add 25 per cent, sodium or 

 potassium hydroxide solution. In the presence of one per cent, or more of conium 

 fruits a distinct mouse odor is developed in time (10 minutes to one-half hour). 

 This test is not reliable with old umbelliferous fruits, as many of them develop 

 a more or less marked mouse odor with alkalies. 



3. Lignin Test. The classic phloroglucin-hydrochloric acid test is useful in 

 making estimates of the amount of lignified tissue present, as in old belladonna root, 

 aconite roots and stems, lobelia herb, fruit products, spices, etc. 



4. Grahe's Cinchona Test. Drive the moisture from the inner surface of a small 

 test-tube by holding it over a Bunsen burner. Into this dried test-tube place a 

 pinch of finely powdered cinchona bark (No. 80) and heat rather carefully over an 

 alcohol lamp or Bunsen burner. When the bark begins to char, red fumes begin 

 to fill the tube and condense on the side of the tube as a reddish purplish liquid. 

 The intensity of the reaction is approximately proportional (direct proportion) 

 to the percentage of alkaloids present. Some skill and experience is necessary to 

 perform this test well. The tube must not be heated too quickly or too much, 

 and the powder should be uniformly fine. 



5. Beaker Sand Test. Pour a definite amount of the powdered spice or vege- 

 table drug into a beaker, add water, stir until the sand is washed away from the 

 vegetable particles and settles to the bottom of the beaker. Let a stream of water 

 run into beaker so as to wash out the vegetable matter. The final washing and 

 decanting must be done carefully so as not to lose the sand. Salt brine may be 

 used instead of water, should the vegetable matter have a comparatively high 

 specific gravity. Dry sand and weigh to obtain the percentage of sand present. 



6. Ash Determination. According to the regulation method. The percentage 

 of the acid-insoluble residue should also be determined. It should be borne in 

 mind that the ash determination gives only approximate results as far as the 

 presence of clay and dirt is concerned, since the organic matter of dirt is combustible. 

 The ash percentage varies extremely in vegetable drugs, especially in herbs and 

 leaves. The sand percentage is comparatively high in those herbs and leaves 

 having abundant trichomes, especially if the drug plants (or herbaceous spices) 

 bearing such trichomes are grown in dry sandy soil. Dirt (and sand) percentage 

 is apt to be high in roots and rhizomes, particularly when rootlets are abundant 

 and when the gathering is carelessly done. 



7. Sublimation Test for Benzoic Acid. Place a drop or two of the suspected 

 liquid or semi-liquid food substance into a deep watch crystal of one inch diameter. 

 Place over it a clean dry slide. Now hold the watch crystal over a flame (alcohol 

 lamp) until the substance (as wine, vinegar, catsup, jam, jelly, etc.), comes to an 



