18-4 Analysis of the Scammon'tes from 



rnonia added to this nitric solution formed a precipitate so- 

 luble in potash. The potash and the oxalate of ammonia 

 also occasioned a precipitation. This residue is composed 

 therefore of alumine and carbonate of lime, besides the re- 

 fuse of vegetable matter, and that substance which is inso- 

 luble in water and in alcohol, a substance which seems to 

 be oxygenated extract. 



This substance incinerated left a whitish powder, solu- 

 ble in a great measure, and with effervescence, in the mu- 

 riatic acid. This solution contains alumine, lime, and a 

 little iron. The portion not soluble in the muriatic acid, 

 when treated by potash, gave a siliceous precipitate on the 

 addition of an acid. 



The water which had served to precipitate the resin, left, 

 after the evaporation, a brown substance, weighing 0*5, of 

 a bitter taste, attracting humidity from the atmosphere, 

 soluble in alcohol, and abundantly precipitated from the 

 aqueous solution by the acetate of lead. This substance 

 presented all the properties of the extractive principle. 



It results therefore from this analysis : 1st. That 100 

 parts of Aleppo scammony are thus constituted : 



Resin 60 



Gum 3 



Extractive principle 2 



Vegetable and earthy matter, &c 35 



100. 

 £?. That Smyrna scammony contains : 



Resin . . . ; 29 



Gum . . . I 8 



Extractive principle * . . . . 5 



Vegetable and earthy matter 58 



100. 



As the resin obtained from both kinds of scammony is 

 much the same, excepting that the Aleppo resin is yellow, 

 transparent and friable, whereas that of Smyrna is more 

 highly coloured and more difficult to pulverise, we thought it 

 would be useful to ascertain if there was any difference in 

 their medicinal properties. Several physicians have since 

 made experiments with both kinds on individuals of similar 

 habits, and have observed no difference in point of purga- 

 tive properties. 



We may conclude therefore, from what precedes, that 

 scammony is a true gum resin mixed with a little extractive 



matter. 



