145 CEPHAELIS IPECACUANHA 



witli the roots or attached to them are frequently found portions 

 of the non-annulated, slender, subterranean stems; but these are 

 very inferior to the roots. Ipecacuanha has a somewhat acrid and 

 bitter taste ; and when powdered a faint peculiar odour, which is 

 peculiarly disagreeable to some persons, producing violent sneezing, 

 cough, and a species of asthma. The powder has a pale brown 

 colour. 



The above characters apply more particularly to the drug as 

 derived from Brazil, but of late years another variety of Ipecacuanha 

 which is imported from Carthagena, and which is distinguished as 

 Garthagena or New Granada Ipecacuanha, is sometimes to be found 

 in the London market, and also in New York. It is distinguished 

 by its larger size, less annulated character, and the distinctly 

 radiated appearance of its woody axis or meditullium. 



Ipecacuanha owes its properties essentially to a peculiar 

 alkaloid called emetia or emetine which exists in the root in the 

 proportion of about 1 per cent. ; it is, however, principally con- 

 tained in the cortical portion, the wood only exhibiting traces of its 

 presence, hence the former, as already noticed, is the most active 

 part of ipecacuanha. The other peculiar principles are ipecacuanhic 

 or cephaelic acid, and a trace of & foetid volatile oil. A large amount 

 of starch is also present in the root, and some other unimportant 

 substances. Emetia is an amorphous, colourless, inodorous 

 alkaloid, with a bitter taste. It is readily soluble in chloroform 

 or alcohol, and also in acetic and other acids ; but is only spar- 

 ingly soluble in water, ether, and oils. Ipecacuanhic acid is a 

 glucoside ; it is a reddish-brown, amorphous, very deliquescent 

 bitter substance, and is closely allied to kinic and caffetannic acids. 



Adulterations and Substitutions. Ipecacuanha is not, so far as 

 we know, liable to be adulterated by admixture with other roots ; 

 but the greater proportion of the root which reaches the London 

 market is more or less damaged by sea water or damp, and some 

 samples also contain a very large quantity of the inferior, nearly 

 smooth, non- annulated, woody stems. In a powdered state it has 

 been adulterated with almond meal, which is readily detected by 

 the development of hydrocyanic acid upon infusion in water. 



