360 SUBTERRANEAN ORGANS 



Japanese Belladonna, Scopola Japonica, Maximowicz, closely 

 resembles scopola rhizome. 



Indian Belladonna Root. Considerable quantities of belladonna 

 root have recently been imported from India, the bulk having been 

 collected in Kashmir from wild plants of Atropa lutescens, Jac- 

 quemont, which is closely allied to A. Belladonna. Indian bella- 

 donna root closely resembles the European, but may be distinguished 

 by the section, which exhibits a radiate wood even in the small roots. 

 The drug has been stated to contain 0*7 per cent, of alkaloid, but 

 it is doubtful whether this is entirely mydriatlc Solanaceous alkaloid. 

 Phytolacca Root. The root of Phytolacca decandra, Linne (N.O. 

 Phytolaccacece) , a plant indigenous to North America but naturalised 

 in southern Europe, has been used to adulterate belladonna. It 

 may, however, readily be detected by the transverse section which 

 exhibits several concentric rings of wood bundles, in consequence of 

 which large roots readily fissure longitudinally. It contains abundant 

 acicular crystals of calcium oxalate in place of the sandy calcium 

 oxalate of belladonna. As it attains a much larger size than belladonna 

 root it is often cut into pieces for admixture. It contains a resinoid 

 substance, phytolaccin, and has a purgative action. 



RHUBARB RHIZOME 

 (Rhizoma Rhei, Radix Rhei) 



Source, &C. The structure of commercial rhubarb indicates that 

 the drug is derived from two species of Rheum. One of these is 

 certainly R. officinale, Baillon ; the other is probably R. palmatum, 

 Linne, var. tanguticum, Maximowicz. The former occurs abundantly 

 in central and western China at an elevation of 3,000 to 4,000 metres, 

 and is collected chiefly in the mountains separating Tibet from the 

 Chinese province of Szechuen and extending eastwards to Hupeh. 

 The plant produces a rhizome which may attain a very great size, 

 and to which large thick roots are attached. The plants are dug 

 up towards the end of September and the roots cut off. The rhizomes 

 are cleaned, and the crown and the bark removed, the larger being 

 cut either longitudinally or transversely. They are dried by stringing 

 them on cords which are then stretched from tree to tree, or on hurdles 

 in huts in which a fire is kindled, or on heated stones. The drug is 

 conveyed chiefly by river to Chung-King on the Yang-tse-Kiang 

 river, and thence to Shanghai, whence it is shipped to Europe, after 

 having undergone further trimming and sorting on its journey. 



Rheum palmatum, Linne, var. tanguticum, Maximowicz, occurs 

 in the province of Kansu. Large quantities of the drug are collected 

 near Lake Kokonor in Tibet, and are apparently derived from this 

 plant. It is carried over the mountains to the Han river, and thus 



