3G2 
Baycuru. 
(Am.  Jour.  Phaiixi 
1       July,  1884. 
knotty  and  very  rough  from  minute  transverse  fissures,  and  also  from 
the  removal  of  the  cork  in  some  places.  There  are  also  numerous 
depressions,  probably  due  to  shrinkage.  For  these  reasons  the  root 
has  rather  a  granular  appearance  externally.  Internally  it  is  reddish 
brown,  and  in  a  section  cut  transversely  shows  a  rather  thick  bark, 
promiuent  wood-wedges,  forming  a  circle  with  alternate  layers  of 
medullary  tissue.  The  pith  occupies  about  one-fourth  of  the  whole 
diameter,  and  shows  a  few  compact  cells  in  its  tissue ;  fracture  rough, 
taste  astringent. 
Under  the  microscope  the  ordinary  tissues  of  the  dicotyledonous 
plants  are  seen.  On  a  transverse  section  are  seen,  first  the  corky 
envelope,  then  the  cellular  envelope,  consisting  of  six  or  eight  layers 
of  cells ;  to  this  is  connected  the  liber  or  inner  layer  of  bast  tissue. 
The  cambium  layer  follows.  The  wood  appears  on  the  transverse 
section  pentangular.  The  medullary  rays  are  much  broader  than  the 
adjoining  wood  bundles.  The  shape  of  the  cells  of  the  meditullium 
varies  from  irregular  quadrangular  to  pentangular.  Air  passages 
are  also  visible  within  the  wood  bundles.  On  the  longitudinal  section 
the  elongated  wood  cells  are  noticeable,  as  also  cells  of  the  medullary 
rays.  The  most  characteristic  microscopical  feature,  however,  is  what 
appears  to  be  sclerogen  cells  resulting  from  secondary  deposits.  In 
some  cases  they  seem  to  be  composed  of  a  group  of  cells  and  are  crys- 
talline in  appearance.  They  are  found  in  the  pith  and  in  the  inner 
bark. 
The  material  for  the  following  analysis  was  kindly  furnished  by 
Messrs.  Parke,  Davis  &  Co.  The  plan  of  analysis,  essentially  that  of 
Mr.  H.  B.  Parsons,  was  as  follows  : 
Moisture. — 6 "48  Gm.  of  the  finely  powdered  drug  were  dried  in  a 
suitable  vessel  at  a  temperature  of  about  90°C.  until  it  ceased  to  lose 
weight.  5*93  Gm.  remained,  showing  a  loss  equivalent  to  8'5  per  cent, 
of  the  drug. 
Ash. — 3  Gm.  of  the  drug  by  gradual  incineration,  in  a  weighed 
porcelain  crucible,  yielded  an  ash  weighing  '290  Gm.,  equivalent  to 
9*66  per  cent,  of  the  drug,  and  containing  potassium,  magnesium, 
sodium,  and  calcium,  in  the  form  of  sulphates,  phosphates,  and  chlo- 
rides, principally  sodium  chloride. 
Benzol  Extract. — 100  Gm.  of  the  finely  powdered  drug  were  placed 
in  a  suitable  percolator,  and  after  saturating  the  powder  with  a  portion 
of  the  menstrum,  and  closing  tightly,  it  was  allowed  to  macerate  for 
