THE ASSAY OF IPECACUANHA. 
141 
contained only 2f per cent, of the pure alkaloid. It will thus be seen that 
through some unknown influence of soil, climate, temperature, etc., this psy- 
chotria had produced sugar where starch is usually found, and had secreted 
less than half the average proportion of active principle. 
The question remains as to what can be done with striated ipecacuanha 
when loaded with sugar? Its well-marked, soft, elastic, and striated charac¬ 
ters would cause its rejection by all followers of the British Pharmacopoeia 
or French Codex. Its physical condition would also prevent its being em¬ 
ployed as an adulterant of true ipecacuanha either whole or powdered. The 
solubility of emetina in an aqueous solution of sugar would also preclude its 
use as a source of the pure alkaloid,—at all events by the process of the 
Codex. Emetine medicinale (Emetine brune) might be prepared from this 
root, but the product would be so contaminated by sugar as to be inert in 
ordinary doses. Allowance being made for the weakness of the root, it might 
be converted into the French preparations of tincture or syrup (a solution of 
the extract, or evaporated tincture). Clearly the importation of this root 
should be strongly discouraged. It is of no direct value, and is likely to be 
employed only as a clumsy adulterant of two or three of the European pre¬ 
parations of true ipecacuanha. 
The tabular results of the above and other analyses of striated and of true 
ipecacuanha are appended. 
Cephaelis Ipecacuanha. 
Richard and Barruel. 
Emetina.16-0 
Wax and fatty matter.1’2 
Gum and salts.12*4 
Resinous matter.1'2 
Starch . ..53-0 
Albuminoid matter.2 4 
Fibre.120 
Galiic acid (traces) and loss ... 1 8 
100-0 
Magendie and Pelletier. 
Emetina.16-0 
Wax.6 - 0 
Fatty matter.2 0 
Gum.10-0 
Starch.42 o 
Fibre.20-0 
Gallic Acid.traces. 
Loss.4-0 
100-0 
Impure Emetina.17-0 per cent. 1 Attfie , d- 
Pure Emetina.10'o „ I 
PSYCHOTRIA EMETICA. 
a. Brittle. 
Pelletier. 
Emetina. 
... 9-0 
Fatty matter. 
. . . 120 
Fibre, Gum, and Starch 
. . . 79 0 
100-0 
Attfield. 
. . \ 10-5 
Impure Emetina, per cent.. 
Pure Emetina, per cent. 
... 6-4 
b. Elastic. 
A ttjield. 
Emetina (pure).2-75 
Grape Sugar.5*39 
Cane Sugar (or substances soluble 
in water and convertible into su¬ 
gar by ebullition with acid) . . 34 - 00 
Albuminoid matter.3-02 
Moisture, Fibre, Fat, and Salts . . 54*84 
100-00 
(End of the First Day s Proceedings of the Conference.) 
The papers read on the second day will appear in our next number. 
