8 AMERICAN MEDICINAL LEAVES AND HERBS. 
other plants as may have been accidentally cut with them. Stems 
should be discarded as much as possible, and where a leaf is composed 
of several leaflets these are usually detached from the stems. 
In gathering herbs only the flowering tops and leaves and the 
more tender stems should be taken, the coarse and large stems being 
rejected. All withered, diseased, or discolored portions should be 
removed from both leaves and herbs. 
In order that they may retain their bright-green color and char- 
acteristic odor after drying, leaves and herbs must be carefully dried 
in the shade, allowing the air to circulate freely but keeping out all 
moisture; dampness will darken them, and they must therefore be 
placed under cover at night or in rainy weather. A bright color is 
desirable, as such a product will sell more readily. 
To dry them the leaves and herbs should be spread out thinly on 
clean racks or shelves and turned frequently until thoroughly dry. 
They readily absorb moisture and when perfectly cured should be 
stored in a dry place. 
Leaves and herbs generally become very brittle when they are dry 
and must be very carefully packed to cause as little crushing as pos- 
sible. They should be firmly packed in sound burlap or gunny sacks 
or in dry, clean boxes or barrels. Before shipping the goods, however, 
good-sized representative samples of the leaves and herbs to be dis- 
posed of should be sent to drug dealers for their inspection, together 
with a letter stating how large a quantity the collector has to sell. 
With the changes in prices that are constantly taking place in the 
drug market it is, of course, impossible to give definite prices in this 
paper, and only approximate quotations are therefore included in 
order that the collector may form some idea concerning the possible 
range of prices. Only through correspondence with drug dealers can 
the actual price then prevailing be ascertained. 
PLANTS FURNISHING MEDICINAL LEAVES AND HERBS. 
Each section contains synonyms, the pharmacopeeial name (if any), 
the common names, habitat, range, descriptions, and information 
concerning the collection, prices, and uses of the plants. 
The medicinal uses are referred to in a general way only, since it is 
not within the province of a publication of this kind to give detailed 
information in regard to such matters. Advice concerning the proper 
remedies to use should be sought only from physicians. The state- 
ments made in this paper as to medicinal uses are based on informa- 
tion contained in various dispensatories and other works relating to 
materia medica. 
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