CRUDE DRUGS. 617 



gtiished by producing long, spike-like racemes which are ter- 

 minated by one large flower. 



The leaves of Inula Helenium (Fig. 182) (Fam. Composite) 

 when submitted to assay will compare favorably with those of 

 digitalis, although they do not contain any digitoxin. This 

 shows that the assay processes should be followed by confirmatory 

 tests, unless the identity of the drug has been determined beyond 

 doubt. 



MATICO. — The dried leaves of Piper angustifolium (Fam. 

 Piperacese), a shrub indigenovis to Peru and Bolivia (p. 249). 



Description. — Usually in large, compressed, matted masses ; 

 lamina narrow, oblong-lanceolate, 10 to 20 cm. long, 2 to 5 cm. 

 broad ; apex acute and long-tapering ; base unequal, slightly cord- 

 ate ; margin finely crenulate, with broad, truncate teeth ; upper 

 surface dark green, tessellated, harsh to the touch from the pres- 

 ence of numerous very small papillae and minute, bristly hairs; 

 lower surface grayish-green, reticulate, matted hairy, velvety to 

 the touch, the veins being very prominent and yellowish-brown, 

 those of the first order diverging at an angle of 65° to 80°, then 

 curving and converging at the apex; petiole 2 to 3 mm. long, 

 texture fragile when dry; odor pronounced, aromatic; taste aro- 

 matic, pungent, pepper-like. 



The drug is generally admixed with the flower spikes, which 

 are 2.5 to 15 cm. long and about 2 mm. in diameter, yellowish- 

 brown, and consisting of very small perfect flowers, which are 

 subtended by bracts fringed on the margin with long, multicel- 

 lular, non-glandular hairs; or the spikes may bear the mature 

 •fruits, consisting, of somewhat cubical or tetragonal, reddish-brown 

 drupes, which are 0.5 to i mm. in diameter and finely reticulate, 

 somewhat like the seeds of lobelia. 



A few of the jointed stems with swollen nodes are also present. 



Constituents. — Volatile oil, resin, a bitter principle, and 

 artanthic acid (see p. 249). 



HYOSCYAMUS.— HENBANE.— The leaves and flowering 

 tops oi Hyoscyamtis niger (Fam. Solanacese), an annual or bien- 

 nial herb (Fig. 267) probably indigenous to Europe, Western 

 Asia and Northern Africa and cultivated in Germany, Russia, 

 England and the Northern United States and Canada, and also 



