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PHARMACOGNOSY. 
rangular ; externally dark brown, longitudinally 
wrinkled, 3 to 12 cm. long, 1 to 2 mm. in diameter; 
fracture short; internally, bark dark brown, 02 to 04 
mm. thick, wood light brown, usually four-rayed. 
Constituents. — Cimicifugin, a bitter, acrid, crystal- 
line principle; two resins amounting to about 3 per 
cent.; volatile oil ; starch and a tannin-like principle 
giving a green color with ferric salts (distinguishing 
the drug from the rhizome of Helleborus niger). 
HYDRASTIS (Golden Seal). 
The dried rhizome and roots of Hydrastis Canadensis 
(Fam. Ranunculacese), a perennial herb indigenous to 
the Eastern United States and Canada. The rhizome 
and roots are collected in autumn. 
Description. — Rhizome horizontal or oblique, sub- 
cylindrical, 2 to 5 cm. long, 3 to 6 mm. in diameter ; 
externally yellowish or dark brown, slightly annulate 
from circular scars of bud-scales, upper surface with 
numerous short stem-remnants or stem-scars, under 
and side portions with numerous roots or root-scars ; 
fracture short, w r axy ; internally deep yellow, bark 
about 0 - 5 mm. thick, w r ood radiate, about 1 mm. thick, 
pith light yellow; odor distinct; taste bitter. 
Roots 4 to 7 cm. long, 0'2 to 0’4 mm. in diameter; 
internally bright yellow, wood somewhat quadran- 
gular. 
Constituents. — Two alkaloids — one, hydrastine, 
occurring in colorless prisms, and to the extent of 1'5 
per cent.; the other, berberine, occurring in yellow 
needles, and to the extent of 3 to 4 per cent. In 
addition, the drug contains a small amount of an 
alkaloid cauadine, a resin, a fluorescent principle and 
starch. 
