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PHARMA COGNOSY. 
bud - scales, top truncate, lower part more or less 
decayed, with numerous roots and few root-scars; frac- 
ture hard and horny; internally light yellow, cortex 
2 to 3 mm. thick, endodermis distinct, central cylinder 
with yellow circular groups of fibrovascular bundles; 
odor slight ; taste bitter and acrid. 
Roots yellowish brown, nearly cylindrical, 3 to 8 cm. 
long, 2 to 3 mm. in diameter; externally yellowish 
brown, longitudinally or transversely wrinkled ; inter- 
nally, bark white, 1 to 2 mm. thick; wood porous, 
cylindrical ; fracture short. 
The leaf and stem bases, if present, should be 
removed. 
Constituents. — The drug contains a number of 
alkaloids, of which the most important is protovera- 
trine (probably veratroidine) ; it is amorphous and 
sternutatory and occurs to the extent of 0 03 per cent 
in the roots; the others include protoveratridine, jer- 
vine, rubijervine, pseudojervine and possibly also cev- 
adine; in addition, the drug contains a number of 
organic acids, fixed oil, starch, calcium oxalate, and 
ash 3 to 4 per cent. 
The constituents of Veratrum album are similar to 
those of Veratrum viride. 
CALAMUS (Sweet Fla g). 
The dried rhizome of Acorus Cilavius (Fam. Ara- 
ceas), a perennial herb widely distributed in all north- 
ern temperate regions. The commercial supplies are 
obtained from the United States, Germany, England, 
Russia and India. The rhizomes are collected in 
autumn, the drug from India being the more aro- 
matic, whereas the German product, on account of the 
removal of the outer portion of the rhizome, is prob- 
ably the least aromatic. 
