298 PHARMACOPEIA!, DRUGS 



yields a product different from the natural gum (see 

 Manna). The writer of this study, when in Smyrna, 

 1906, obtained from Mr. Agop Alpiar, chemist of 

 A. Keun & Company, opium merchants of that city, an 

 authentic specimen of pure scammony. This is now in 

 the hands of Dr. J. P. Snyder, of the American Drug 

 Manufacturers' Association, Chairman of one of the 

 research committees of that organization. Scammony 

 is a gift of the Orient, the beginning of its use being in 

 home medication. 



SCILLA (Squill) 



Official in all editions of U. S. P., from 1820 to 1910. 



This bulbous plant (Urginea maritimd), is broadly 

 distributed in the islands of the Mediterranean and the 

 countries neighboring, in the south of Spain and Portu- 

 gal, and in many instances is found far inland, even to 

 an elevation as high as three thousand feet above sea 

 level. It is one of the most anciently recorded remedies, 

 being mentioned by Epimenides (294), a Greek writer 

 of the 7th century B. C., who made such use of it that 

 it became known as epimenidea. Theophrastus (633) 

 mentions it, Pliny (514) notes its two varieties. Dios- 

 corides (194) describes the making of vinegar of squills, 

 whilst preparations of squill with honey were familiar 

 remedies in Arabian medication. The forms employed 

 by the empiricists of those remote times seem not to 

 have been improved upon by the pharmacy of even the 

 present day; indeed, pharmacal attempts to improve 

 the aqueous or acetous squill simples of ancient home 

 medication by alcoholic extracts and tinctures have, in 

 the opinion of this writer, resulted in failure. 



