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PHARMACOGNOSY. 
Allied Plants. — A number of other species of Del- 
phinium have been investigated and found to have 
poisonous properties : the seeds of Delphinium consolida 
resemble stavesacre, but are only about one-fifth the 
size. 
SINAPIS ALBA (White Mustard). 
The dried, ripe seeds of Sinapis alba (Fam. Cruci- 
feree), an annual native of Europe, and naturalized 
and extensively cultivated in many countries. The 
commercial supply of the drug is obtained from plants 
grown in England, Germany, Holland and Italy. 
Description. — Campylotropous, irregularly spheri- 
cal, somewhat compressed, 1 to 2 mm. in diameter ; 
externally yellowish brown, seed - coat membrana- 
ceous, and minutely pitted, marked on one side by a 
distinct ridge and two parallel furrows formed by the 
hypocotyl and cotyledons ; internally without a reserve 
layer, light yellow, hypocotyl curved, cotyledons con- 
duplicate; inodorous; taste pungent and acrid. 
Constituents. — Fixed oil about 20 per cent. ; mu- 
cilage in the outer wall of the epidermal cells about 
15 per cent. ; proteids about 30 per cent. ; a glucoside 
sinalbin and a ferment myrosin, which yield on 
interaction a yellowish non volatile oil (acrinyl sul- 
phocyanide) which is pungent to the taste, but owing 
to its non-volatile character, does not affect the eyes 
or nose. 
Adulterants.- — While the whole mustard is seldom, 
if ever, adulterated, ground mustard may contain 
wheat middlings, or shorts, and occasionally rice or 
pea flour; when these cereals are employed, turmeric 
is also added to bring up the color, which latter may 
be detected by its solubility in water, alcohol, ether 
and volatile oils and by its becoming brown with 
alkalies. 
