INSECT POWDER 17 
Other species of flowers: Pyrethrum corymbosum W., P. tenuifolium Tenore, P. 
indicum, Chrysanthemum segetum, Hungarian daisy, Russian daisy, oxeye daisy 
(Chrysanthemum leucanthemum), garden daisy (flowers of Bellis perennis L.), 
German chamomile (dried flower heads of Matricaria chamomilla L.), Roman 
chamomile (dried flower heads of Anthemis nobilis L.), corn chamomile (Anthemis 
arvensis L.), mayweed (Anthemis cotula L.), feverfew (Matricaria parthenium 
L. Synonyms: Chrysanthemum parthenium (L.) Pers.; Pyrethrum parthenium 
Sm.), Croton flavens, tansy (leaves and tops of Tanacetum vulgare L.), calendula, 
marigold (dried ligulate florets of Calendula officinalis L.), yellow cat’s paw, 
hourglass weed, yellow-moth weed (Helichrysum arenarium DC. Flores Stechadis 
citrine), “Margherita silvatica’” (Chrysanthemum frutescens), Chrysanthemum 
coronarium, Inuia pulicaria, Chrysanthemum pallens (‘false insect flowers’’), C. 
inodorum, Anthemis tinctoria, Helichrysum ttalicum, Anthemis cotula, and Spartium 
qunceum. 
Miscellaneous adulteranis: Almond shells, aloes (inspissated juice of leaves of 
various species of aloes), arsenic, borax, brick dust, chrome alum, ‘‘cockle of 
Levant,” euphorbium (gum-resin from Huphorbium resinifera Berg.), fleabane, 
horseweed (leaves and tops of Krigeron canadensis L.), hellebore (powdered root 
of Veratrum album), jalap (dried tuberous root of Hxogonium purga (Wend.) 
Benth.), nux yomica (dried, ripe seed of Strychnos nux vomica L.), pepper, quassia 
(wood of Picrasma exceisa (Swartz) Planchon and of Quassia amara L.), quil- 
laja, soap-bark (dried bark of Quzllaja saponaria Molina, deprived of its peri- 
derm), sawdust, senna leaves (dried leaves of Cassia acutijolia Delile or of 
Cassia angustifolia Vahl.), starch (potato and wheat), starch (variety not 
specified), stems and leaves of insect powder plant, sumac (dried fruit of Rhus 
glabra L..), and ground rice hulls. 
HOW TO DETECT ADULTERATION 
The methods which have been used in determining the genu:neness 
of insect powders may be classified in three groups: 
1. Physiological—The powder to be tested is tried out directly on 
one or more species of insects, and the time necessary to produce 
death compared with the time in which the same quantity of a known 
genuine insect powder will kill the insect. 
2. Microscopical._—Adulterants are detected by observation through 
the microscope, either with or without staining or other preliminary 
chemical treatment. 
~ 3. Chemical.—The ash, ether extract, and other chemical deter- 
minations are made and the results compared with the average 
values for genuine powders. 
PHYSIOLOGICAL METHODS 
Kalbruner (151), in 1874, was the first to record the physiological 
testing of insect powder. He states that 4 grains of a good insect 
powder sprinkled on a fly in a vial should produce stupor in 1 min- 
ute and death in 2 or 3 minutes. Testing a number of commercial 
powders in this manner, he found that from 15 to 30 minutes were 
required to kill flies. Flowers representing a number of species of 
plants, as well as the powdered stems and leaves of Pyrethrum roseum 
and cinerarizfolium, were tested in this way, and found to be worth- 
less, as compared with genuine insect powder. 
In 1876, De Bellesme (63), in order to show that the action of 
the active principle of Pyrethrum was not the mechanical one of 
closing the pores of an insect, sprinkled flies with insect powder and 
also with powdered leaves, wood, and other inert substances. Those 
sprinkled with the Pyrethrum powder were almost dead after 1 hour, 
while those left for 10 hours in the inert powders were uninjured. 
In 1880, Sayre (240) tested the effect of the flowers of Pyrethrum 
roseum on flies and tadpoles. Unger (282), in 1888, while exam- 
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