IPECACUANHA. 



pointed at both extremities, and found in large bundles of from 

 twenty-five to forty lying side by side like Indian arrows. When 

 confined within the cell they are never found crossing or lying at 

 angles. They are crystals of calcium oxalate. 



The central part is composed entirely of woody fibre, and 

 medullary rays. The medullary rays consist only of nearly square, 

 thin walled cells loaded with starch. They are much smaller, 

 though resembling the cells of the bark. The woody portion con- 

 sists of thick walled, short, pointed cells, with pitted walls. They 

 are generally empty and it is the only part of the structure not 

 loaded with starch. There is no pith in the center of true ipecac, 



Fig. 5. Potato Starch, x 375. 



though there is in the most of the substituted roots. The cor- 

 ticle portion is by far the more active portion of the root. The 

 woody cord being almost inert. 



Thinking some of my readers, who have had little or no ex- 

 perience in studying the drugs as they appear in market, so with- 

 ered and dried, might like to examine ipecac, I will take a mo- 

 ment and help them. A small fair looking piece of the ipecac 

 root should be placed in a dish of cold water for from ten to 

 twenty hours warm water for a short time will do, though it 

 should not be boiling. Then with a sharp razor a section 

 should be cut across the root just as thin as possible. There is 

 no necessity of cutting the section complete, /. <?., having the 



