CRUDE DRUGS. 637 



bis gigantea. The non-flowering herb yields about i per cent, of 

 a narcotic volatile oil which has an odor that is not unpleasant. 

 The volatile alkaloid cannabinene is supposed to be trimethylamine. 



Allied Drugs. — The alkaloids harmine and harmaline are 

 found in the seeds of Peganum Harmala (Fam. Zygophyllacese) 

 of India, and have narcotic properties similar to Cannabis indica. 



SCOPARIUS.— BROOM.— The tops of Cytisus Scoparius 

 (Fam. Leguminosje), a shrub (p. 294) indigenous to the tem- 

 perate parts of Europe, and naturalized in waste places from Vir- 

 ginia to Nova Scotia. The tops are gathered before flowering and 

 are used in the fresh condition, or they are dried. 



Description. — Usually cut into pieces ; branches alternate, 

 pentangular, 2 to 3 mm. thick ; externally dark green, with 5 yel- 

 lowish-green wings and numerous reddish-brown cork patches, 

 the younger branches somewhat pubescent ; fracture short, fibrous, 

 or of the larger pieces, tough, splintery ; internally yellowish, bark 

 thin, wood slightly porous, pith large, about i mm. in diameter. 

 Leaves elliptical, obovate, simple above, 5 to 10 mm. long, 3 to 4 

 mm. broad, digitately trifoliate below ; apex of both leaves and 

 leaflets acute ; base acute ; margin entire ; upper surface dark 

 green, nearly glabrous; under surface slightly pubescent; petiole 

 wanting in the simple leaves and about 5 mm. long in the com- 

 pound leaves, pubescent. Odor peculiar. Taste bitter. 



Constituents. — A volatile liquid alkaloid sparteine (0.03 

 per cent.), forming crystalling salts, the sulphate of which has 

 physiological properties similar to digitalin; a yellow crystalline 

 principle scoparin, which yields picric acid on treatment with 

 nitric acid ; volatile oil ; tannin ; ash about 5 per cent. 



Allied Plants. — Several plants of the Leguminosse are used 

 like Scoparius. Spanish broom is obtained from Spartium jun- 

 ceum, a shrub indigenous to the Mediterranean region. Coronilla 

 scorpioides yields a yellow glucoside coronillin. 



CHIRATA. — The entire plant of Sweertia Chirata (Fam. 

 Gentianacese) , an annual herb (p. 362) indigenous to the moun- 

 tains of Northern India. The plants are collected after the cap- 

 sules are fully formed, dried and made into bundles. 



Description. — Usually in flat bundles tied with a strip of 

 bamboo and about i M. long, 15 cm. wide and 7 cm. thick. Root 



