JALAP. 



85 



Fig. 21. 



lowing preparations are officinal : Tinctura SenncR el Jalapce^ or 

 Elixir salutis; Confectio Se7ince^ or Lenitive electuary ; Syriqjus 

 Sennce ; 2\Xi^ Fluid extract of senna. 



The leaflets of the American Senna — Cassia Marilandica, an 

 indigenous plant— possess similar properties to those of the true 

 senna, and may be advantageously used as a purgative. 



SCAMMONY. (SCAMMONIUM, U. S.) 



Dried juice from the root of the Convolvulus scammo7via, a climb- 

 ing plant, growing in Syria and Asia Minor. It is obtained by 

 slicing off the root, and allowing the juice to concrete. Formerly, 

 the commercial varieties were distinguished as Alejopo^ Smyrna, and 

 Montpellier scammony ; at present, they are generally known un- 

 der the two heads o^ genuine miA factitious. The purest kind (sel- 

 dom seen here), is denominated virgin or tear scammony ; it con- 

 sists of shapeless masses, rather porous, of a dull ash colour, and 

 free from impurities. The sort usually met with is in saucer-shaped 

 pieces, three or four inches in diameter, of a dark ash-gray colour, 

 hard, and containing numerous adulterations. It is often common 

 to designate the genuine drug, from whatever source procured, as 

 Aleppo scamynony ; while the term Smyrna scammony, is applied 

 to the others. The spurious 

 QiY factitious scammony, is chief- 

 ly manufactured in the south 

 of France. Odou r pecul iar, re- 

 sembling old cheese ; taste acrid 

 and bitter ; chemically, a gum- 

 resin. 



Effects. — A drastic cathartic ; 

 overdoses cause irritation and 

 inflammation of the bowels ; sel- 

 dom given alone. Dose, 5 to 10 

 grs. ; — an ingredient in the 

 Compound extract of colocy nth. 



Jalap. — (Jalapa, U. S.) 



Tuber of the Ipomcea Jalapa 

 (Fig. 21), a climbing Mexican 

 plant. The tubers are imported 

 either whole or sliced. They 

 vary, from the size of a walnut 

 to that of an orange ; externally, 

 ofa blackish-gray colour, heavy, 

 hard, and of a brownish fracture; 

 odour peculiar and nauseous ; 

 taste nauseous ; colour of powder, light brown. 



8 



The root is apt to 



