BOTANIC MATERIA MEDICA, 123 
whilst the odor reminds one of smoke. The 
jalap contains sugar, starch, gum, resin, and its 
active principle is a resin, which contains two 
bodies, termed Jalapin and Convolvulin. Tam- 
pico jalap, impomora simulans, and mmpomora 
orizabensis are the false varieties, which may be 
distinguished from the true jalap by being more 
irregular in form and quite wrinkled; also by 
analysis they are found to contain more resin, 
or very much less, than the true variety. Jalap 
is a hydragogue, cathartic and diuretic, and en- 
ters into the following compounds: Pulvis jalap 
comp. and pulvis scammona comp. The ab- 
stract, extract, and resina jalapz are also recog- 
nized as officinal. The dose of jalap is from 1 5 
to 30 grains (1 to 2 grams) of the powder; of the 
resin or alcoholic extract, 4 to 8 grains (0.26 to 
0.52 grams); of the abstract, 10 to 15 grains; 
the dose of the compound jalap powder is from 
15 to 60 grains (1 to 4 grams). Jalap gets its 
name from the town of Xalapa, Mexico, in the 
* State of Vera Cruz, where it is found in abun- 
dance. Jalap root is usually gathered by the 
Indians and dried in their huts; then packed in 
bundles of from roo tu 200 pounds’ weight and 
shipped to all parts of the world. For further 
account see the Dispensatory, page 821. 
Scilla, Squills, Urginea Scilla, or Scilla Mar- 
itima, according to Linneas.—Natural order 
Liliaceze, This perennial is a native of the 
southern parts of Europe bordering on the Med- 
iterranean sea. The scape grows from two to 
four feet high, arising from the centre of the 
leaves, terminating in an ovate raceme of pale 
yellow flowers of a greenish hue; the perianth 
