476 GUM-RESINS 



whilst soft so as to form a cake ; or it may occur in irregular lumps 

 which are frequently soft in the interior and often contain abundant 

 visible impurity in the shape of sand, small stones, &c. 



Saigon gamboge is occasionally exported from Saigon in short, thick, 

 cylindrical cakes wrapped in palm leaves. 



Indian gamboge is obtained in India from G. Morella, Desrousseaux, 

 and resembles Siam gamboge in its essential qualities ; it is used as 

 an equivalent of gamboge in India and the Eastern Colonies. 



SCAMMONY 



(Scammonium) 



Source, &c. Scammony is a gum-resin obtained by incision from 

 the living root of Convolvulus Scammonia, Linne (N.O. Convolvulacece). 



The scammony plant is a twining plant indigenous to the eastern 

 Mediterranean and resembles the common bindweed, but is much 

 larger. It produces a root attaining as much as a metre in length 

 and 10 cm. in thickness, from which a number of slender aerial steins 

 spring. The gum-resin is collected in Asiatic Turkey, chiefly near 

 Smyrna and Aleppo. 



The abnormal structure of the root has been already alluded to 

 (see Scammony Root). In the cortex as well as in the parenchyma 

 surrounding each of the columns of wood are cells containing a 

 resinous emulsion. These cells are arranged in vertical rows, and 

 when an incision is made the contents drain from a series of cells by 

 the breaking of the transverse walls. In collecting the drug the 

 workman clears away the earth surrounding the upper part of the 

 root so as to leave 10 or 15 cm. of the root exposed. This is then 

 cut off in a slanting direction 5 to 10 cm. below the crown, and a 

 mussel shell is stuck into it just beneath its lowest edge so as to receive 

 the milky sap which instantly flows out. The shells are usually left 

 till the evening, when they are collected and the cut parts of the 

 roots scraped with a knife so as to remove any partially dried drops 

 of juice ('Pharmacographia'). If the gum-resin were then dried at 

 once a drug of fine golden brown colour and translucent appearance 

 would be produced ; but as a rule the contents of the shells are collected, 

 and daily added to, until a sufficient quantity has accumulated ; this 

 is then softened, mixed into a homogeneous mass, and allowed to 

 dry. During the long standing in a more or less moist condition 

 the scammony undergoes a fermentative change, and the drug when 

 dry has a dark colour and porous appearance when broken. It is 

 also frequently adulterated whilst in the soft state. 



Description. Scammony is usually imported in flattened cakes 

 about 1-5 cm. thick and 10 or 15 cm. in diameter. It varies in colour 



