Spec. Plant Willd. i. 844. Cl. 5. Ord. 1. Pentandria Monogynia. Nat. Ord. Convolvulaceae. G. 323. Corolla bell-shaped, plaited. Stiff, two. Capsule twocelled, each cell containing two seeds. * Stem twining.

Sp. 4. C. Scammonia. Scammony. Med. Sot. 3d edit. 243. t. 86. Sp. 61. C. Jalapa. Jalap. Med. Bot. 3d edit. 246. t. 87. Ipomaea

Jalapa. Redman Coxe.

1. Convolvulus Scammonea.3 Officinal. Scammonium, Lond. Scammoniae gummi resinA,

Edin. Convolvulus Scammonia; gummi resina, Dub.

Scammony.

Syn. Scammonee (F.), Scammonium von Aleppo (G.), Het Scammoneum (Dutch), Scammonea (I.), Escamonea (S. & Port.), Sukmunya (H. & Arab.).

1 Journal of Med. and Phys. Science, Philadelphia, i. 67.

2 It is generally supposed that the poison administered to Socrates and Phocion was the expressed juice of Conium, but the effects, as described in the Phsedon of Plato, do not accord with this opinion.

Dicscondis.

This plant is a native of Syria, Mysia, Cappadocia, and Cochin China. It grows in abundance on the mountains between Aleppo and Latachea, and there the greater part of the scammony of commerce is obtained.1 The root, which is perennial, is tapering, from three to four feet in length, and from three to four inches in diameter, covered with a light grey bark, and contains a milky juice. It sends up many slender twining stems, which extend from fifteen to twenty feet in length, adorned with arrow-shaped, smooth, bright green leaves, upon long footstalks. The flowers are in pairs upon the pedicles, consisting of a double calyx of four emar-ginated leaflets in each row; and a funnel-shaped, pale yellow, plaited corolla. The capsule is three or four-celled, containing small pyramidal seeds.

Scammony is obtained from the root of this plant2; and is collected in the beginning of June in the following manner. The ground is cleared away from the root, the top of which is then cut off in a sloping direction, about two inches below the place whence the stalks spring; and the milky juice which flows from it is collected in a shell fixed at the most depending part. Each root yields a few drachms only, which are drained off in about twelve hours. "This juice from the several roots is put together, often into the leg of an old boot, for want of some more proper vessel, where, in a little time, it grows hard and is the genuine scammony." - " The Jews," says Dr. Russel, "buy the scammony while it is soft, and mix it with the expressed juice of the stalks and leaves, with wheaten-flour, ashes, fine sand, or whatever else can answer their purpose." It is imported from Aleppo in what are called drums, which weigh from 75 to 125 lbs, each; and from Smyrna in cakes like wax, packed in chests. The former is light and friable, and is considered the best; that from Smyrna is more compact and ponderous, less friable, and fuller of impurities.

The Smyrna scammony is said to be the juice of the Periploca scammonium,

Qualities.-Good Aleppo scammony is light, friable, and externally like a honeycomb. It has a peculiar, rather heavy odour, not unlike that of old ewe-milk cheese; and a bitterish, slightly acrid taste. The colour is bluish grey or dull olive, changing to dirty white or greenish yellow on lathering, when the surface of the mass is rubbed with the wet finger. The fracture is irregular, but smooth, faintly shining, and the sharp edges of the shivers are of a light grey colour, and

1 Russel's Nat. Hist, of Aleppo, ii. 246.

2 No other part of the plant possesses any medicinal quality. Russel. 1. c, translucent. It is pulverulent; and the powder has a light grey colour. Its specific gravity is 1.235.l When it is of a dark colour, heavy and splintery, it should be rejected. When triturated with water, nearly one fourth of it is dissolved, and the solution appears slightly mucilaginous, opaque, and of a greenish grey colour. This solution is not affected by alcohol, solutions of acetate and diacetate of lead, nor sulphate of iron, nor is it precipitated by the acids; but with sulphuric acid it gives out the odour of vinegar. Solution of ammonia does not alter it, but that of potassa occasions a yellowish precipitate, which is quickly redissolved on the addition of an acid. Ether takes up two parts in ten of scammony, and when evaporated, leaves a brownish semi-transparent resin. Alcohol dissolves two thirds of its weight; but proof spirit is its best menstruum, taking up the whole except the impurities. Aleppo scammony contains, according to Bouillon la Grange and Vogel, 60 parts of resin, 2 of extractive, 3 of gum, and 35 of insoluble impurities.

Smyrna scammony is usually in flat cakes, heavier, harder, and less pulverulent than the Aleppo: it contains 29 of resin, 8 of gum, 5 of extractive, and 58 of insoluble impurities. When these impurities consist of flour, sand, or ashes, they can be detected by dissolving the sample in proof spirit, as they sink and remain undissolved : but scammony is sometimes also adulterated with the expressed juice of cynanchum monspeliacum; and a fictitious scammony is also sold for the real, consisting of jalap, senna, manna, gamboge, and ivory black.

Medical properties and uses.-Scammony is a drastic cathartic, operating, in general, quickly and powerfully. The ancients were acquainted with its purgative qualities; and also employed it as an external application for removing hard tumours, itch, scurf, and fixed pains; but for the latter purposes it is now never used. It is a good purgative, in the torpid state of the intestines, in leucophlegmatic, hypochondriacal, and maniacal subjects; in worm cases, and the slimy state of the bowels to which children are subject; and as a hydragogue cathartic in dropsy. Scammony has been regarded by some as a cathartic of so irritating a nature, as to require to be corrected by exposing it to the fumes of sulphur, defalcating it with lemon-juice and other acids, and uniting it with demulcent mucilages; but except in an inflamed or very irritable condition of the bowels, it is a safe and efficacious purgative. It is, however, apt to gripe; on which account it is generally united with an aromatic, or a drop of some essential oil.

1 Brisson.