CRUDE DRUGS. 



693 



Ustilago (corn smut) ; it occurs in irregular, somewhat cylindrical 

 or globose masses from 10 to 15 cm. in diameter (Fig. 22), con- 

 sisting of a whitish membrane, becoming dark with age, and a 

 brownish-black mass of spores, which are nearly spherical and 

 about 7 /t in diameter {Fig. 23). The drug has a heavy odor 

 and a disagreeable taste. Ustilago should be carefully dried and 

 not kept longer than one year. Corn Smut contains a crystalliz- 

 able alkaloid, ustilagine, which is soluble in water and alcohol 

 and forms crystalline salts ; from 0.5 to 5.5 per cent, of a crys- 

 tallizable acid substance, maizenic acid, which resembles sclerotic 



Fig. 278b. Spores of various species of Lycopodium. A, B, reticulated spores of 

 Lycopodium davatum; C, D, spores of L. phyllanihum marked by pores; E, F, spinous 

 spores of L. densitm; G, H, J, spores of L. inundatum with wavy reticulations. — After Pritzel. 



acid; about 1.5 per cent, of a volatile base resembling trimethyla- 

 mine; 2.5 to 6.5 per cent, of a dark brown fixed oil, insoluble in 

 alcohol and having the odor of the drug ; about 8 per cent, of two 

 resins, one being soluble in alcohol and the other in ether; 3.75 

 per cent, of a non-reducing sugar which crystallizes in needles ; 

 and yields 4.5 per cent, of ash. 



LYCOPODIUM. — The spores of Lycopodium davatum, and 

 of other species of Lycopodium (Fam. Lycopodiaceae) , perennial 

 herbs (Fig. 46) indigenous to Europe, Asia, North America and 

 Central America. The spores are obtained from the ripened 

 cones by shaking the fruiting tops (sporogonia) and the extrane- 



