558 VEGETABLE DRUGS 



a yellowish-gray or yellowish-brown powder, having a slight, peculiar 

 odor, and a somewhat acrid taste. Permanent in the air. Soluble in 

 alcohol; insoluble in carbon disulphide, benzol, and fixed and volatile 

 oils. Not more than 10 per cent, of it is soluble in ether. 



Constituents. — 1, jalapurgin (CeaHiooOaa), the most active principle; 

 insoluble in ether ; 2, convolvulin or jalapin, identical with scammonin; 

 3, starch or gum. 



JPose.— One-quarter that of jalap. 



ACTION OF SCAMMONY AND JALAP. 



Scammony and jalap are powerful liydragogue cathartics 

 in their action on swine, dogs and cats. Horses and cattle 

 are but slightly affected by them in ordinary doses. Their 

 resins are dissolved by the bile in the duodenum, and a pur- 

 gative substance is formed which chiefly stimulates the 

 intestinal glands and causes a copious outpouring of 

 secretion. 



Both drugs excite peristaltic action and increase the 

 vascularity of the intestinal mucous membrane, particularly 

 scammony, so that griping may occur. They produce gastro- 

 intestinal irritation, with vomiting and purging, in animals 

 capable of the act, after large doses. While jalap and 

 scammony are active purgatives, they are not always certain, 

 and are therefore more frequently employed in combination 

 with other cathartics. They are indirectly cholagogue — 

 like calomel — in sweeping out bile from the small intestines 

 and preventing its reabsorption, and are said to be anthel- 

 mintics as well. The active principles of both drugs are 

 absorbedj as death has taken place in an infant after exhibi- 

 tion of scammony to its nurse, aqd purging has followed the 

 rubbing of jalap into the shaven skin of dogs. 



Uses. — ^Jalap is in more common use than scammony 

 because it is somewhat more of a hydragogue and less prone 

 to cause griping. It is particularly indicated in dropsy or 

 ascites of dogs, made into pills with from 3 to 5 grains of 

 calomel. Jalap may also be given to expel round or thread 

 worms; in torpidity of the liver; and in obstinate constipa- 

 tion in dogs. The latter is treated more satisfactorily by 



