l62 
Lands  Where  Drugs  Grow. 
Am.  Jour.  Pharm. 
April,  1900. 
odor  in  plants  during  the  drying  and  curing  process  yielding  aro- 
matic principles  is  well  known.  The  evolution  of  the  odorous  prin- 
ciples, the  hydrocarburets,  aldehydes  and  ethers  in  the  prolific 
laboratory  of  nature  has  been  well  studied  and  defined. 
Again,  the  changes  of  taste  are  somewhat  akin  to  the  changes  of 
odor.  For  example  :  Aconite  fresh  from  the  earth  might  be  taken 
for  wild  horseradish  root ;  but  as  the  drying  proceeds,  it  becomes 
the  acrid  drug  which  we  know  and  dread.  The  first  taste  of  many 
narcotic  plants  when  quite  fresh  is  not  unlike  that  of  any  bitter 
weed ;  by  chewing,  the  taste  peculiar  to  the  prepared  drug  is 
developed. 
To  the  producer  the  most  important  change  is  that  of  color ;  and 
to  this  change  the  grower  and  gatherer  devote  much  energy.  The 
methods  by  which  certain  producers  secure  a  color  of  uniform 
brightness  are  rigidly-guarded  secrets.  Courtesy  forbade  my  ask- 
ing information  on  this  point  of  those  most  competent  to  give  it,, 
and  my  knowledge  has  been  gained  from  personal  observation  and 
experiment. 
Leaves,  such  as  hyoscyamus,  belladonna,  etc.,  are  usually  gathered 
at  a  time  when  their  chlorophyl  content  is  at  its  highest,  and  when,, 
as  known  by  experience,  they  will  dry  with  the  least  possible 
change.  This  course  seems  to  be  pursued  irrespective  of  any  other 
consideration,  for  the  color  of  the  finished  product  governs  the 
price. 
We  may  conclude  with  Dr.  Squibb  that  a  fine  green  color  in 
leaves  is  not  always  indicative  of  the  alkaloidal  value  of  leaves.  It 
has  been  hinted  that  in  certain  instances  the  producer  has  not  hesi- 
tated to  dexterously  use  prussian  blue  to  bring  up  the  required 
tint ;  I  saw  no  evidence  of  this  practice,  however. 
It  is  agreed  that  plants  of  which  the  leaves  are  the  only  objec- 
tives should  not  be  cut  under  hot  sunshine  (but  since  hot  sunshiny 
days  are  not  plentiful  in  England,  these  crops  can  be  gathered 
almost  any  day  in  the  year). 
After  cutting,  the  leaves  are  removed  from  the  sun,  and  care  is 
taken  that  they  are  not  allowed  to  lie  in  large  heaps,  or  permitted 
to  ferment  or  sweat.  In  the  making  of  the  so-called  green  ex- 
tract, it  is  claimed  that  the  process  should  begin  at  once. 
While  it  is  undoubtedly  true  that  plants  dried  in  the  sun  do 
not  retain  their  color,  one  gatherer  stated  that  the  sun  was  the 
