INFERIOR DRUGS AND MKTH<I>S <>K DUCK IT ION. 13 



fixed. Some time ago a sample of golden seal root \\a> received 

 which was intended for powdering; it containe<l *2'>\.* per cent of a.sh 

 and 2.02 per cent of hydrant ine alkaloid, based on the air-dried mate- 

 rial. A normal root should not contain more than 10 per cent of a^h 

 and not less than 2.5 per cent of hydrastine alkaloid. With golden 

 seal at 60 cents per pound 1 his dirt is a profitable addition for someone. 

 Certain leaves almost always contain a considerable amount of for- 

 eign matter. Chimaphilla leaves have been seen which were mixed 

 with 25 per cent of stems. A sample of jaborandi leaves recently 

 examined contained not less than 16 per cent of twigs and stems. A 

 coca leaf sample on assay indicated 0.52 per cent of cocaine alkaloid, 

 but the leaf was mixed with at least 18 per cent of foreign material. 

 No valid excuse exists for this evil. Coca leaves containing as little a.s 

 3 per cent of foreign matter are readily available. A sample of cubeb 

 berries on examination gave the following results: Stems, 15 per cent; 

 worthless berries, 11 per cent; oil, 6.38 per cent. The physical 

 appearance of the oil was good, its specific gravity 0.9384, and optical 

 rotation 34.6. The gravity is a little high but can hardly be con- 

 sidered abnormal. Good berries should yield not less than 12 per 

 cent of oil. 



DETERIORATED DRUGS. 



The sample of cubeb berries referred to serves as an excellent 

 example of transition between drugs containing foreign admixtures 

 and those that have deteriorated by age or manner of keeping. To 

 what extent these cheap, inferior, and in some cases worthless goods 

 are used it is difficult to ascertain, but from information vouchsafed 

 by brokers, drug millers, and manufacturers, this practice obtains to 

 a considerable extent all about us. Deteriorations are incidental to 

 the drug business, but the use of such goods, knowingly, in the man- 

 ner indicated, is fraudulent, and what makes this practice so extremely 

 reprehensible is the fact that it is very difficult, if not impossible, to 

 detect inferior material of this character when powdered with goods 

 of prime quality. 



Articles particularly susceptible to change due to time are those con- 

 taining essential oils, such as cinnamon bark, clove buds, lavender 

 flowers, peppermint herb, sandal-wood chips, etc. A hundred-pound 

 package of cinnamon-bark chips when submitted to distillation yielded 

 only enough oil to impart a distinct flavor of cinnamon to 5 gallons of 

 the aqueous distillate. Potent drugs with only a trace of alkaloids, 

 due to old age, improper collection, or damage in transportation, are 

 frequently used. Old jaborandi leaves deficient in alkaloidal strength 

 are met with at times. Belladonna leaves improperly collected are 

 not uncommon, and damaged coca leaves are occasionally placed on 

 the market. 



