SCAMMONII RADIX 



367 



CONSTITUENTS. Gum, resin, starch, scammonin, Cs^seOig, etc. Not less than 



75 per cent, of the drug should be soluble in ether; ash not more than 3 per 



cent. 

 ACTION AND USES. Hydragogue cathartic, on account of its harshness, generally 



given in combination. Uncertain on account of frequent impurities. Dose: 



i to 8 gr. (0.065 to 0.5 Gm.), in emulsion. 



FIG. 212. Convolvulus scammonia Branch. 



462 a. SCAMMONII RADIX. SCAMMONY ROOT 



The dried root of Convolvulus scammonia Linne 1 yielding, when assayed by the 

 official process, not less than 8 per cent, of the total resins of scammony root. 



SOURCE AND DESCRIPTION. This is the root of a morning glory-like plant, 

 a native of Levant. The root is cylindrical or somewhat tapering 

 from 10 to 25 cm. in length and i to 4.5 cm. in thickness. Exter- 

 nally, it is grayish to reddish-brown usually distinctly twisted, deeply 

 longitudinally furrowed and marked by distinct root scars. Frac- 

 ture tough, irregular and with projecting wood-fibers. Internally 

 somewhat mottled showing yellowish, porous wood-wedges, separated 

 by whitish parenchyma containing starch and resin. Bark, thin; 



