187 CONVOLVULUS SCAMMONIA 



obtained by incision from the living root (I. P.). SCAMMONH 

 a resinous exudation from the root (U. S. P.). 



1. SCAMMONIA RADIX. Dried Scammony root was introduced 

 into the British Pharmacopoeia in consequence of the extensive 

 adulterations to which the ordinary scammony of commerce was 

 liable ; and also, as a means for obtaining the active principle of 

 the drug at a moderate price. This root can scarcely be called a 

 regular article of commerce, although it is sometimes to be met 

 with in somewhat large quantities in the London market ; it is, 

 however, frequently collected in Syria and Asia Minor by collectors 

 sent out by private firms for that purpose. The dried roots usually 

 present a more or less twisted appearance; they vary in length 

 from one to two or more feet, and in diameter from one to three 

 or more inches, averaging about one inch. They are nearly 

 cylindrical in form, except towards the crown, which is somewhat 

 enlarged, and usually presents some remains of the slender aerial 

 stems. They are covered by a greyish-brown or yellowish bark, 

 are more or less shrivelled and longitudinally furrowed from 

 contracting in the process of drying ; and when fractured, they 

 present a pale brown colour internally, and on the fractured 

 surface the pure inspissated resin may be often seen in the form 

 of irregular fragments of a pale yellowish-brown colour. They 

 have a faint odour and taste, somewhat resembling jalap. 



The active constituent of the root is a resin, which according 

 to the experiments of Marquart, Fliickiger and Hanbury, A. Hess, 

 and others, occurs in the dried root, in proportions varying from 

 about 3'5 to 6'5 per cent. The roots are richest in resin just 

 before the plants flower; at which time, therefore, they should 

 be collected for use in pharmacy. This resin is described below 

 under the head of " Scammoniae Resina." Amongst the other 

 constituents of the root, are gum, starch, sugar, tannic acid, and 

 extractive. The starch has been particularly described by Greenish, 

 and he has urged the desirability of distinguishing the granules of 

 scammony starch from those of wheat, which, as will be noticed 

 under " Scammonium," is one of the common adulterants of 

 the ordinary commercial scammony. 



