PARTS OF ROOTS AND STEMS. 
165 
SASSAFRAS (Sassafras Bark). 
The bark of the root of Sassafras officinale (Fam. 
Lauraceie), a tree indigenous to Eastern North Amer- 
ica. The bark is collected in the early spring, or 
autumn, deprived of the periderm, and used either in 
the fresh or dried condition. 
Description. — In transversely curved or recurved, 
irregular, oblong pieces, 3 to 8 cm. long, 10 to 30 mm. 
in diameter, 0 5 to 3 mm. thick; outer surface light 
reddish brown, nearly smooth, somewhat porous; inner 
surface distinctly striate, somewhat scaly; fracture 
short, soft, surface slightly porous; odor aromatic; 
taste somewhat mucilaginous, astringent and aromatic. 
Constituents. — Volatile oil 5 to 9 per cent.; tannin 
about 6 per cent.; a reddish-brown altered tannin com- 
pound (sassafrid) about 9 per cent.; resin and starch. 
CINCHONA (Cinchona Bark). 
The dried bark of the stem and branches of various 
species of Cinchona (Fam. Rubiaceie), trees indigenous 
to South America, but cultivated in nearly all tropical 
countries, from which latter the commercial supplies are 
obtained. There are two principal commercial varie- 
ties: (1) Red Cinchona, which is yielded by Cinchona 
succirubra Pavon, and (2) Calisaya Bark, yielded by 
Cinchona Calisaya W eddell and Cinchona Ledgeriana 
Moens. There are a number of ways of treating the 
bark, but the one which is principally employed, par- 
ticularly in India, consists in the replacement of the 
bark by a covering of moss or other protecting mate- 
rial. The new product under these conditions is richer 
in alkaloids than the natural bark of the tree, and is 
known as “ renewed bark.” Not all of the original bark, 
however, is removed at one time, and this being also 
covered by the protecting material is known as “ mossed 
bark.” 
