IPOMZA JALAPA. 
portions, one of which, amounting to seven parts out of ten, 
is hard and insoluble in ether, the other is soft and soluble in 
that menstruum. The proportion of resin to the other ingre- 
dients of the root varies in different specimens. 
Ipomma Jaapa is a stimulant cathartic, acting briskly on 
the bowels, and although occasionally griping severely, yet 
safe and efficacious. It is used in the same cases as scam- 
mony, to which it is closely allied, not only by its effects, but 
also by botanical affinities and chemical properties. When- 
ever it is required effectually to evacuate the intestines, it is 
tolerably certain in its operation, more so, indeed, than many 
other purgatives. In the proper dose it may be given with- 
out the least hesitation to children, in any case requiring an 
active purge. It has an advantage over some other evacu- 
ants, that it does not stimulate or heat the system, its effects 
being confined principally to the alimentary canal, the peri- 
staltic motion, secretions, and exhalations of which it pro- 
motes, and constipation less frequently succeeds its use than 
of some other purgatives. 
Daily experience, in fact, proves the value of jalap as an 
active, certain, and safe purgative in various diseases both of 
children and adults. Of course its irritant properties unfit it 
for exhibition in inflammatory affections of the alimentary 
canal, as well as after surgical operations about the abdo- 
men and pelvis. Also it is not an appropriate purgative in 
irritation of or hemorrhage from the uterus, or in piles and 
stricture and prolapsus of the rectum. On the other hand, 
its use is indicated in torpid and overloaded conditions of the 
intestinal canal, as well as in constipation attended with re- 
tention of the catamenia. When the object is to relieve cere- 
bral congestion and dropsical affections by a counter-irritant 
influence on the mucous membrane, jalap is well adapted to 
fulfil it. “Jalap,” says Bremser, “ is, without contradiction, in 
verminous diseases one of the best purgatives, and which 
perhaps possesses at the same time greater anthelmintic vir- 
tues than any other.” 
Jalap is apt to be attacked by worms, which, however, are 
said to devour the amylaceous or softer parts, and to leave 
_ the resin, so that the worm-eaten drug is more powerfully 
_ purgative than that which is sound. ‘Thus, out of 397 parts 
M. Henry obtained 72 parts of resin, while from an equal 
quantity of the latter he procured only 48 parts. Hence 
worm-eaten jalap should be employed for obtaining the resin, 
but should not be pulverized, as it would afford a powder of 
_ More than proper strength. 
__ The dose of jalap in powder is from fifteen to thirty grains, __ 
the resin or alcoholic extract from four to eight grains.” 
