442 CONVOLVULACE^. 



scammony : of these, the most frequent are carbonate of lime and 

 farinaceous matter. The first may generally be recognized by examining 

 the fractured surface of the drug with a good lens, when the white particles 

 of the carbonate will be perceived. If the surface is then touched 

 (while still sub lente) with hydrochloric acid, effervescence will prove the 

 presence of a carbonate. Other earthly adulterants can be discovered 

 by incineration, or by examining the residue of the drug after treatment 

 with ether. Starchy substances, the presence of Avhich may be surmised 

 by the scammony being difficult to break, are detectable by the micro- 

 scope or by solution of iodine, a cold decoction of scammony not being 

 affected by that reagent. Scammony that is ponderous, dull and clayey, 

 not easily broken in the fingers, or which when broken does not exhibit 

 a clean, glossy surface, or which does not afford at least 80 per cent, of 

 matter soluble in ether, should be rejected. That which is made up in 

 the form of hard, dark, circular cakes is widely different from pure 

 scammony. 



Scammony may be distinguished from Resin of Scammony by its 

 property of foi'ming an emulsion when wetted. The resin is also more 

 glossy and almost entirely soluble in ether. 



Radix Scammoniae. 



The frauds commonly practised on the scammony of commerce have 

 given rise to various schemes for obtaining the drug in a purer form, as 

 well as at a more moderate price.^ 



So far back as 1839, the Edinburgh College prescribed a Resina 

 Scanimonii, which was prepared by exhausting scammony with a spirit 

 of wine, distilling off the spirit, and washing the residue with water. 

 Such an extract was manufactured by the late Mr. Maltass of Smyrna, 

 and occasionally shipped to London. 



In consequence of a suggestion made by Mr. Clark, manufacturer of 

 liquorice at Sochia near Scala Nuova, south of Smyrna, a patent was 

 taken out (1856) by Prof. A. W. Williamson of London, for preparing this 

 resin directly from the dried root by means of alcohol. The same 

 chemist shortly afterwards devised an improved process, which consists 

 in boiling the roots first with water and then with dilute acid, so as to 

 deprive them of all matters soluble in those menstrua, and afterwards 

 extracting the resin by alcohol. 



Resin of Scammony, obtained either from scammony or from the 

 dried root, is ordered in the British Fharmacopoiia of 1807, and is 

 manufactured by a few houses. It is a brown, translucent, brittle sub- 

 stance of resinous fracture, entirely soluble in ether, and not forming 

 an emulsion when wetted with water. 



Scammony root is occasionally brought into the London market, 

 sometimes in rather large quantity,^ but it is not generally kept by 

 druggists, nor do we find it quoted in price-currents. Its collection is 

 even opposed in some parts of Turkey by the local authorities.^ 



^ Scammony was quoted in a London ^ Such was the case at Aleppo, as we 



price-current, April 1874, at 8s. to 368. know by a private letter from Mr. Consul 

 per lb., Resin of Scammony at 14«. per lb. Skene. — D. H. 



- Thus 100 bales were offered in a drug 

 sale, 3 July 1873. 



