A^cioberPi895m-}     Alkciloidal  Value  of  Ipecac  Stems.  533 
THE  ALKALOIDAL  VALUE  OF  IPECAC  STEMS." 
By  Alfred  R.  Iv.  Dohme. 
Presented  to  the  American  Pharmaceutical  Association,  Denver  Meeting,  1895. 
In  previous  experiments  it  has  been  shown  that  the  cork  cells 
and  those  of  the  cortical  parenchyma  adjacent  to  them  are  the  seat 
of  the  alkaloids  of  ipecac  root.  Furthermore  it  has  been  shown 
that  the  thinner  root  contains  more  alkaloid  than  the  thicker  or 
fancy  root. 
Since  then  it  has  been  observed  by  the  writer  that  what  he 
termed  "  wiry"  root  is  made  up  of  Svo  parts  of  the  plant,  viz.:  the 
stem  proper  and  the  part  of  the  plant  that  merges  the  root  into  the 
stem.  While  the  stems  are  usually  quite  straight,  with  a  smooth 
surface,  the  part  that  merges  it  into  the  root  is  almost  invariably 
twisted  and  slightly  annulated.  This  then  divided  the  ipecac  root 
of  commerce  into  three  varieties,  root,  merging  portion  and  stems, 
which  shall  here  be  designated  respectively  as  fancy  root,  wiry  root, 
and  stems. 
Two  lots,  "A"  and  "  B,"  of  commercial  ipecac  root  were  spread 
out  separately,  and  each  divided  up  into  three  portions  representing 
"  fancy  root,"  "  stems,"  and  the  "  merging  portions."  All  six  por- 
tions were  assayed  by  Keller's  method,  using  titration  with  volu- 
metric acid  solution,  and  with  the  following  results  : 
Ipecac  Root,  Sample  11  A." 
Fancy  root  2-oo  per  cent,  alkaloids. 
Wiry  root   2-13       "  " 
Stems  177 
Ipecac  Root,  Sample  "£." 
Fancy  root  2*33  per  cent,  alkaloids. 
Wiry  root  2*43       "  " 
Stems  2-15       "  " 
From  these  results  but  one  conclusion  can  be  drawn,  and  that  is 
that  the  wiry  root,  as  was  shown  last  year,  is  richer  in  alkaloid  than 
the  fancy  root,  and  that  the  stems  contain  less  alkaloid  than  either 
the  fancy  or  wiry  root,  but  still  contain  considerable  alkaloid. 
Baltimore,  June  25,  1895. 
