187 CONVOLVULUS SCAMMONIA 



2. SCAMMONO: RESINA. Scammony resin, or as it is sometimes 

 termed when purified scammonin, is directed to be obtained either 

 from scammony root or ordinary commercial scammony. According 

 to Spirgatis, the resins obtained from these two sources are iden- 

 tical in appearance, in composition, in their relations to solvents, 

 and in their reactions; a result which the experiments of Knujse 

 had previously rendered doubtful. According to A. Hess, however, 

 the resin prepared from the root uniformly contains tannic acid, 

 while that prepared from commercial scammony is free from it. 



The following are the characters and tests of scammony resin 

 as prepared according to the directions of the British Pharma- 

 copoeia : " In brownish translucent pieces, brittle, resinous in 

 fracture ; and if prepared from the root of a sweet fragrant- 

 odour. It cannot form singly an emulsion with water, by which 

 it is distinguished from ordinary scammony. Its tincture does 

 not render the fresh cut surface of a potato blue, indicating the 

 absence of guaiacum resin ." Ether dissolves it entirely, by which 

 it is distinguished from jalap resin. It is also entirely soluble in 

 alcohol. In a pure state scammony resin is colourless ; and is 

 identical with the resin called Jalapin, which is found in the 

 root of Ipomfsa Orizabensis, and has been described under the 

 head of Woody Jalap or Orizaba Root, in our article on Exogo- 

 nium purga. 



3. SCAMMONIUM. Collection, Preparation, and Commerce. Scam- 

 monium or Scammony is collected during the summer months, 

 when the plant is in flower, as follows : The peasant first 

 clears away the bushes which shelter the plant, and after 

 removing the earth from the root to the depth of from three to 

 five inches, he then cuts through it in a slanting direction with a 

 sickle-shaped knife, at from 2 to 4 inches below the crown ; 

 and a mussel-shell is immediately stuck into the root just 

 beneath the lower part of the cut portion in order to receive 

 the sap or milky juice which immediately flows out ; this pure 

 scammony when dry is a transparent gummy-looking substance 

 of a golden-yellow colour. The quantity afforded by a single 

 root varies very much according to its age, size, and locality ; the 



