SCAMMONY AND JALAP 415 



in the air. Soluble in alcohol; insoluble in carbon disulphide, benzene, and fixed 

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



Constituents. — 1, jalapurgin or convolvulin (CmHi„„032), the most active prin- 

 ciple; insoluble in ether; 2, jalapin, identical with scammonin; 8, starch or gum. 



Dose. — One-quarter that of jalap. 



Action of Scammony and Jalap. 



Scammony and jalap are povi^erful hydragogue 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 purgative substance is formed which chiefly 

 stimulates the intestinal glands and causes a copius outpouring of secre- 

 tion. 



Both drugs excite peristaltic action and increase the vascularity of 

 the intestinal mucous membrane, particularly scammony, so that griping 

 may occur. They produce gastrointestinal 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 

 anthelmintics as well. The active principles of both drugs are absorbed, 

 as death has taken place in an infant after exhibition of scammony to its 

 nurse, and 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 

 calomel. 



Dropsy in dogs. 



Resinae jalapas gr.xx. 



Hydrargyri chloridi mitis gr.iii. 



M. et divide In capsulas No. ii. 

 S. Give 2 capsules at one dose. 



Jalap may also be given to expel round or thread worms ; in torpidity 

 of the liver; and in obstinate constipation in dogs. The latter is treated 

 more satisfactorily by massage, rectal enemata, manual evacuation and 

 repeated doses of liquid petrolatum. 



Cambogia. Gamboge. (B. P.) 



Synonym. — Gutti, P. G. ; gutte, gomme-gutte, Fr. ; gummigutt, gutti, G. 



A gum-resin obtained from Garcinia Hanburil Hooker Alius (nat. ord. Gut- 

 tiferae). 



Habitat. — Siam, Anam, and Camboja. 



Properties. — In cylindrical pieces, usually hollow in the centre, of variable 

 length, 2 to 5 cm. in diameter, externally grayish orange-brown, longitudinally 

 striate; fracture conchoidal, orange-red, waxy, and somewhat porous; inodorous; 

 taste very acrid. 



Powder bright yellow, sternutatory, containing few or no starch grains. Not 

 more than 25 per cent, should be insoluble in alcohol; ash not more than 3 per 

 cent. 



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