66 POWDERED VEGETABLE DRUGS 



Such drugs are generally sold in the powdered state, as that renders 

 detection of fraud more difficult. In the case of crude inferior drugs 

 careful attention should be given to color, odor and taste, as compared 

 with the pure drug. Such drugs should be tested chemically in order 

 to determine the per cent, of active constituents, provided they are 

 assayable. 



6. Starches and Meals. These substances are added to powdered 

 drugs only. Starch and flour have ever been extensively employed in 

 drug adulteration. They are cheap, plentiful everywhere, easily 

 obtained and perfectly harmless. If starch is added to a drug which 

 is normally free from starch, the fraud is readily detected. Various 

 cereal meals are generally employed, as wheat flour, corn meal, oat 

 meal, etc. Occasionally the flour or starch is partially roasted in 

 order to develop the desired change in color. Meals free from starch 

 are occasionally employed in the adulteration of vegetable powders, 

 especially almond meal. 



Some powdered drugs are so commonly adulterated that dealers 

 boldly assert that a pure article does not exist. Kamala is quite gen- 

 erally adulterated with colored starch and sand. Such substances as 

 powdered pepper, cayenne pepper and mustard, are quite frequently 

 adulterated with considerable quantities of flour, corn meal and other 

 cereals. 



7. Insects and Insect Remnants.- These are never added intention- 

 ally. They are quite frequently accidentally present in some drugs, 

 as leaves, flowers and barks. The insects cling to or are retained by 

 the various plant parts, where they die and are collected with the 

 drug. Aphidse (plant lice) are very plentifully found with the strobiles 

 of humulus, also in some leaves and herbs. In all such instances the 

 organisms are dead and are rarely present in sufficient numbers to 

 lessen the value of the drug. The presence of living insects and other 

 animals is evidence that the drug is being attacked by a destructive 

 parasite. 



B. Inorganic Substances. 



1. Sand. This substance is added to powdered drugs, and it is 

 surprising to find how extensively it is used. It must, however, be 

 kept in mind that a small amount of sand is normally present in many 

 drugs. Air currents carry dust and sand particles to all exposed 

 parts of plants; it accumulates in crevices of barks and other irregu- 

 larities of plant surfaces; it is readily retained by waxy and resinous 

 excretions of leaves, flowers and fruits; it is retained by trichomes, 

 etc. Soil, which is simply a mixture of sand particles and decayed 



