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 

 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 si g ne d 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- su it s w ith reference to the special histology of 

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



mirror; e, attachment to , , . , 



base or tripod as P roven 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 



