CHARACTERISTICS OF VEGETABLE POWDERS 51 



sites, which occasionally attack drugs, are Bostrichus dactilliperda and 

 Anthrenus scrophulariaceae, which are more common upon furs and 

 skins; Anthrenus varius generally attacks dried animal substances, 

 particularly furs. Tenebrio obscurus, Calandra oryza, Tinea penionella 

 (the ordinary cloth moth), and number of other insects may on occasion 

 be found feeding upon drugs. 



Of the arachnida, there are certain mites which occasionally attack 

 drugs, especially powdered drugs, and such substances as sugar, starch, 

 flour and bran. These animals are very small and closely rlated to 

 the familiar cheese mites, sugar mites, meal mites, itch mites, etc. 

 As a rule, they are nearly colorless, and this, combined with their 

 minuteness, makes it difficult to detect them in the early stages of 

 infection. They occur less frequently than insects and cause serious 

 trouble in isolated instances only. 



A knowledge of the exact species of the parasites which may attack 

 vegetable drugs is of secondary or minor importance. The point 

 of real interest is that drugs, both crude and powdered, may be at- 

 tacked by various animal parasites; that these parasites are often 

 very destructive and constitute a nuisance sometimes not readily 

 combated. If one keeps in mind that some drugs are more readily 

 attacked than others, it will simplify the matter of watching the stock 

 on hand for incipient evidences of the presence of parasites. If 

 mature insects are present it indicates that the drug is infested. Look- 

 ing over the infected roots and rhizomes one may readily observe 

 small circular openings which the larva make in eating their way in or 

 out of the drug. By means of the powerful jaws the insect converts 

 the drug into a powder, some of which may be found at the bottom 

 of the container or scattered through it. The grub literally destroys 

 the entire interior of the drug, leaving only a thin outer shell which 

 serves as a protection to the insect or larva. 



The following drugs are most liable to be attacked by animal 

 parasites: aconite root, angelicum, apocynum, asclepias, belladonna 

 root, calamus, colchicum corm, ergot, ginger, inula, iris, jalapa, pellitory, 

 rheum, taraxacum, squill, most of the leaves and herbs. These 

 drugs, whether in the crude state or powdered form, should be in- 

 spected frequently and if the parasites are present, as evidenced by 

 the presence of the insects themselves, their larvae or the powder-like 

 particles of the drug, the container should be emptied, the larvae, 

 insects and attacked specimens should be removed, drugs and container 

 thoroughly cleaned, dried and then replaced. These watchful meas- 

 ures are usually all that is required, but to make sure that all of the 

 parasites are rendered inactive, the drug should be exposed to some 



