Am.  Jour.  Pharm.  j 
January,  19 19.  * 
Stramonium. 
15 
The  results  as  presented  above  show  conclusively  that  the  total 
alkaloid  content  of  both  the  leaves  and  secondary  stems  run  very 
high,  in  most  cases  more  than  twice  the  U.  S.  P.  requirement.  Hence 
there  should  not  be  a  question  with  regard  to  the  use  of  the  second- 
ary stems  in  conjunction  with  the  leaves,  as  the  alkaloidal  require- 
ment of  the  U.  S.  P.  could  be  very  easily  met.  The  alkaloid  content 
of  the  primary  stems  is  considerably  lower  than  that  of  the  secondary 
stems.  In  all  cases  these  figures  were  considerably  below  0.25  per 
cent,  or  the  minimum  requirement.  This  is  not  the  case  with  the 
roots,  however.  In  samples  Nos.  223,  224  and  225,  in  which  the 
admixture  of  just  10  per  cent,  of  stems  was  employed,  a  very  high 
alkaloid  content  was  realized.  In  one  case  0.51  per  cent.,  or  twice 
the  U.  S.  P.  requirement,  was  appreciated.  The  most  important 
data  to  be  considered  is  that  form  Nos.  226,  227  and  228,  in  which 
cases  the  leaves  and  stems,  as  they  would  exist  in  the  field,  as  if 
harvested  by  a  mowing  machine  and  the  whole  plant  utilized,  are 
presented.  In  two  cases  the  percentage  of  alkaloid  content  went 
far  above  the  U.  S.  P.,  while  in  the  third  case  it  was  only  0.025 
per  cent,  below  that  requirement.  Hence  there  hardly  seems  a 
question  but  that  on  the  whole  if  leaves  and  stems  were  both  em- 
ployed, and  they  were  utilized  in  the  proportion  in  which  they  existed 
in  the  field,  the  U.  S.  P.  requirement,  with  regard  to  the  alkaloidal 
content,  would  always  be  met.  The  same  might  be  said  with  regard 
to  stramonium  material  where  leaves,  stems  and  roots  are  utilized 
since  in  all  determinations,  the  total  alkaloid  content  was  far  above 
the  requirement. 
In  so  far  as  the  material  at  hand  will  permit,  the  data  set  forth 
in  these  experiments  lead  to  the  following  conclusions : 
1.  The  moisture  content  of  the  various  portions  of  stramonium 
plants  are  as  follows :  Leaves  80  to  85  per  cent.,  secondary  stems  87 
to  92  per  cent.,  primary  stems  85  to  87  per  cent.,  and  roots  78  to 
82  per  cent. 
2.  When  the  whole  plant,  not  including  the  root,  is  considered, 
the  ratio  of  the  leaf  to  the  whole  stem  is  about  47.5  to  52.5. 
3.  In  considering  the  leaf,  stem  and  root,  the  leaf  represented 
about  41  per  cent,  of  the  whole. 
4.  The  total  mydriatic  alkaloids,  of  the  leaf  and  secondary  stems 
when  analyzed  individually  or  the  leaves  with  10  per  cent,  of  the 
secondary  stems,  run  much  higher  than  the  U.  S.  P.  requirement. 
5.  The  whole  plant  either  with  or  without  the  root  can  be  har- 
