72 
Substitute  for  Chiretta, 
Am.  Jour.  Phaitn. 
Feb.,  1875, 
been  called  in  question,  and  asking  my  opinion  as  to  whether  it  really 
was  the  true  herb. 
Upon  a  superficial  examination  I  found  the  sample  to  answer  in 
color  and  general  appearance,  as  stated  by  the  sender,  the  description 
of  the  official  Chiretta  pretty  closely  ;  but  a  practised  observer  would 
soon  observe  differences,  more  especially  in  the  form  of  the  stems  of 
which  the  sample  was  composed,  their  less  scarred  character,  and  the 
less  compact  arrangement  of  the  flowers  and  fruits,  than  in  the  true 
Chiretta. 
When  more  carefully  examined,  several  marked  distinctive  charac- 
ters were  noticed,  the  most  important  of  which,  in  order  to  render  them 
more  evident,  I  have  tabulated  with  the  characters  of  true  Chiretta  as 
follows  : 
SPURIOUS  CHIRETTA. 
Stem  obscurely  quadrangular  below, 
its  four  angles  being  each  marked  by  a 
somewhat  prominent  border  or  wing  5 
and  very  evidently  quadrangular  and 
winged  above. 
Leaves  when  present,  sessile,  narrow, 
and  tapering  to  each  end,  that  is,  some- 
what lanceolate  in  outline. 
Scars  left  by  the  fallen  leaves,  not  very 
prominently  marked,  in  consequence  of 
the  slight  and  comparatively  narrow  at- 
tachment of  the  leaves. 
Flo'zvers  arranged  in  elongated  loosely 
aggregated  clusters,  or  cymose  panicles. 
Flowers  also  larger  and  longer  than  those 
of  true  Chiretta. 
A  transverse  section  of  the  stem  exhibits 
a  comparatively  thick  woody  ring  on  the 
outside  5  and  with  the  centre  hollow,  or 
presenting  but  faint  traces  of  pith  at- 
tached to  the  inner  surface  of  the  ring 
of  wood. 
TRUE  CHIRETTA. 
Stem  round  below  and  througliout 
nearly  its  whole  length  5  and  very  faintly 
quadrangular  above. 
Leaves  embracing  the  stem,  broad  at 
their  base,  and  tapering  upwards  into  a 
long  acute  point,  that  is,  ovate  or  cor- 
date-ovate in  shape,  and  acuminate- 
pointed. 
Scars  left  by  the  fallen  leaves,  very 
evident,  opposite  to  each  other  and  al- 
most encircling  the  stem. 
Flo^ivers  arranged  in  less  elongated  cy- 
mose panicles,  that  is,  more  compact,  and 
more  umbellate. 
A  transverse  section  of  the  stem  exhibits 
a  comparatively  thin  woody  ring,  enclos- 
ing a  large  continuous  easily-separable 
pith,  which  is  yellowish  in  color. 
Such  are  the  general  distinctive  structural  and  morphological  charac 
ters  between  the  spurious  and  true  drug,  which  I  have  purposely  given 
in  as  practical  a  form  as  possible  in  order  to  be  readily  available.  An- 
other very  marked  difference  is  afforded  when  we  make  an  infusion  of 
the  two  drugs.    Thus,  the  taste  of  the  infusion  of  true  Chiretta  is  in- 
