IDENTIFICATION STUDY OF THE MEDICINAL SHELLS

The usage of the clamshells (Concha meretricis, Concha cyclinae, Concha anodonte), Concha ostreae, Concha margaritifera Usta, Concha cypraeae Violacea,, Concha cypraeae Alba is different. It is hard to identify them when they are held instock in pharmacy in powder form since they resemble each other in shape and colour. Through the study of seven medicines and the shells of seventeen original animals it was found that amongst their powder there exist the lustre and fluorescence resembling each other originally witla the exception of the characteristics occasionally occurred in their shapes and with the existance of tiny tissue slices. Their tisssue structure is different, for example, Concha meretricis has crossed lamellar structure; Concha ostreae has crossed-lamellar streaks which are comparatively coarse; Concha haliotidis has nacreous structure and fine and smooth lamellar streaks; Concha ostreae has parallel lamellar structure; Concha margaritifera Usta has nacreous structure and visible square round shaped tissue; Concha cypraeae has crossed-lamellar streaks which are fine and smooth.Under the observation of dissecting microscope the microstructure of the powder appears in the form of dispersed particles with neutral pH. When the powder is put in water it sinks slowly with many floats. But after calcining process it turns sticky with its microstructure taking the shape of coral or reef and with alkaline pH. When it is put into water it sinks rapidly with few floats. Concha haliotidis displays light green fluorescence by adding saturated solution of zinc acetate alcchol to it.An index table is made from the above-mentioned results.