ON STATICE CAROLINIAN A. 
117 
The account quoted by Bigelow states, that the astringency 
of this root was found fully equal to that of galls, which con- 
tain from thirty to forty per cent, of tannin; but it is rendered 
probable, by the subsequent part of the sentence, that this 
judgment was formed rather from the intensity of its precipi- 
tates with the salts of iron, than from any estimate of the quan- 
tity which it contains. Certainly had it possessed the astrin- 
gency of galls, it would have long since acquired a much 
greater degree of importance in the materia medica than has 
yet been attached to it. 
Jin Adulteration. — An article appears in our market under 
the name of Marsh Rosemary, which differs materially in 
chemical constitution from the genuine drug. It may be dis- 
tinguished by its comparative lightness, its short starchy frac- 
ture and light grayish color, and by generally occurring sliced 
longitudinally, instead of in whole pieces. The spurious root 
may also be known by its reaction with tincture of iodine, in- 
dicating starch, which the genuine root does not contain. 
