39. (Fig. 58.) CANTHARIS. Cantharides. U. S.. The dried beetles Cantharis vesicatoria De Geer, Goleoptera. Dark, brownish, bluish purple irridescent.

Disagreeable animal odor.

Pungently acrid.

The various tissues more or less agglutinated will appear in a glycerin mount. The bluish irridescent fragments of the hard wing covers are diagnostic of the true blistering beetle (brown in the Chinese beetle, Mylabris cichorii). The chitinous spicules are long, tapering and nearly colorless, whereas in the Chinese beetle they are much shorter and thicker and dark to nearly black.

Ash should not exceed 8 per cent.

The most common adulterant is the Chinese blistering beetle above mentioned. The Colorado potato beetle has been used as an adulterant and as a substitute. Rarely adulterated by vegetable tissues, corn meal and cereal.

Fig. 58. a, the chitinous spicules of the true blistering beetle (Cantharis vesicatoria); b, the chitinous spicules of Mylabris cichorii.

40. (Fig. 59.) CAPSICUM. Capsicum.

Fl. ex. 60. Tinct. 30.

U. S.

Cayenne, African or Pod Pepper, E. Spanischer Pfeffer, Schlotenpfeffer, G. Capsique, Piment des jardins, Piment rouge, Poivre de Cayenne, Fr.

The fruit of Capsicum fastigiatum Blume, Solanaceæ.

Bright yellowish red.

Faint odor, characteristic.

Exceedingly pungent.

Epidermal cells of seed large with very thick porous wavy walls; epidermal cells of pericarp with moderately thick porous wavy yellow walls; endosperm cells containing proteid granules and oil globules, walls porous.

Ash 6 per cent.

The powder is adulterated with a variety of substances as fruit of allied species, red lead oxide, saw dust, bran, mustard, flour, starch, etc. May be moldy.

a. Epidermis of seed.

b. Endosperm cells with proteid granules and oil globules.

c. Peripheral endosperm.

d. Epidermal cells of pericarp.

e. Isolated epidermal cells.

Boneblack, Ivory black, E. Thierkohle, Knochenkohle, Beinschwarz, G. Charbon animal, Noir d'os, Fr.

The partially oxidized bones of animals.

Lustrous black.

Odorless.

Tasteless.

A careful microscopical examination will reveal an occasional fragment which shows traces of Haversian canals, lacunae and canaliculi, which unmistakably disclose the origin of the charcoal.

Ash 85 per cent., by ignition.
Vegetable charcoal may be added.

42. CARBO LIGNI. Charcoal. U. S.

Coarse and fine powder.

Wood charcoal, E. Holzkohle, Präparirte Kohle, G. Charbon végetble, Fr.

Made from partially oxidized soft wood (willow and other plants). Dull black.

Odorless.

Tasteless.

Brown wood fiber remnants are quite abundant, intermingled with the black coarser more oxidized cell groups. Crystals of calcium are also to be found. Numerous splintery fragments. The most distinctive fragments are those derived from the larger porous ducts. Ash should not exceed 3 per cent.

Not generally adulterated. It is difficult to determine the source of the wood from which the charcoal is made.