170 POWDERED VEGETABLE DRUGS 



(6) Of the white pepper. The dark fragments derived from the 

 pericarp tissue are identical with those of the black pepper. . They 

 are sparingly present; and the colorless tissue fragments (starch 

 bearing) consisting wholly of the endosperm tissue. The two counts 

 together represent 100 per cent, white pepper. 



(c) Of the "grinding peppers," make the counts as for black 

 pepper, and compare with the counts for black pepper. 



(d) Of the black pepper refuse, make the count of the black tissue 

 groups and the groups of fibrous tissue. 



Admixtures of black pepper and of black pepper refuse are to be 

 made and the percentages of the admixtures redetermined from the 

 counts. "Grinding peppers" will show an excess of pericarp tissue. 

 Pepper adulterated with refuse will also show an excess of pericarp 

 tissue, but in addition wiU show groups of fibrous tissue derived from 

 pepper stems. 



Admixtures of pepper and other substances which are frequently 

 employed as adulterants, such as cereal, cornmeal, ground olive pits, 

 etc., may be made and the percentage adulteration redetermined 

 from the counts. 



9. Mustard. Three substances are required. Ground mustard 

 (either white or black) of known purity; ground turmeric of known 

 purity; and wheat flour. No count is to be made of the mustard, as 

 it reveals no structure upon which a percentage count could be based. 

 Make the following counts. A count of the yellow starch clusters of 

 turmeric; and a count of the starch granules and of the starch bearing 

 tissue groups of the wheat flour. 



Make admixtures of mustard and of wheat flour, adding from 

 1 to 5 per cent, of turmeric, and from the counts redetermine the 

 percentages of the admixtures. 



The following addition should be made to this problem. Make 

 counts of 100 per cent, ground mustard hulls, and from admixtures of 

 mustard and of mustard hulls, redetermine the percentages of the 

 admixtures. 



10. Compound Licorice Powder. This substance contains powdered 

 sugar the count of which can be made from an alcohol or oil mount; 

 or, the counts of all of the ingredients may be made from a vaseline 

 suspension. Of course it will be necessary to make a separate count of 

 a pure sample of powdered sugar. In so doing it should be kept in 

 mind that most of the powdered sugar of the market contains a small 

 amount of corn starch. The amount of corn starch present should be 

 determined according to the method given elsewhere in this volume. 

 The following counts are to be made. 



