CRUDE DRUGS. 613 



phyllaceae), an evergreen shnib (p. 367) indigenous to the moun- 

 tains of California and Northern Mexico. 



Description. — Usually broken into fragments ; lamina lance- 

 olate, 7 to 15 cm. long, I to 3 cm. broad; apex acute; base acute, 

 slightly tapering into the petiole ; margin nearly entire or unevenly 

 serrate; upper surface yellowish-green, glabrous, resinous; under 

 surface grayish-green, reticulate, minutely tomentose between the 

 reticulations, midrib light yellow, prominent ; petiole 5 to 10 mm. 

 long ; texture coriaceous, brittle ; odor and taste balsamic. 



Constituents. — A greenish-yellow acrid resin about 9 per 

 cent. ; a yellow crystalline principle eriodictyonic acid (about 2 

 per cent.), with a somewhat sweetish but acid taste and becom- 

 ing reddish-black with ferric chloride; volatile oil; ericolin (see 

 Uva Ursi) ; an inert resin; tannin, and calcium oxalate. 



DIGITALIS.— FOX GLOVE.— The leaves of Digitalis pur- 

 purea (Fam. Scrophulariaceae) , a biennial herb (Fig. 265) prob- 

 ably indigenous to Central and Southern Europe, and cultivated 

 and naturalized in various parts of Europe and the United States 

 and Canada (p. 376). The leaves are collected in June from 

 plants of the second year's growth, just before the commencement 

 of flowering, immediately dried (preferably with the leaves on 

 the stem as in the drying of tobacco), and carefully preserved. 

 Germany furnishes the chief supply, the leaves from both culti- 

 vated and wild plants being used. Leaves which have been 

 carefully dried and are kept in air-tight vessels will retain their 

 properties for some years. It is necessary to avoid moisture and 

 light, these being the factors which bring about deterioration of 

 the drug. 



Description. — Usually more or less crumpled and broken 

 into fragments- lamina ovate-oblong or ovate-lanceolate, 10 to 25 

 cm. long, 5 to 15 cm. broad; apex obtuse or rounded; base some- 

 what cuijeate, tapering into the petiole ; margin dentate or crenate, 

 the divisions with a yellowish-brown gland-like apex ; upper sur- 

 face dark green, minutely hairy, somewhat wrinkled, with a single 

 water-pore near the apex of each tooth; under surface grayish- 

 green, midrib grayish-browti, prominent, from which veins of the 

 first order diverge at angles of 45° to 65" and unite with one 

 another near the margin, and from which arise other anastomos- 



