JALAP — SCAHMONY. 



641 



Jalap. — This drug is obtained from the dried tubers or root- 

 stock of IpomcBa Jalapa or Convolvulus Jalapa, a perennial plant, 

 native of America. Some suppose it takes its specific name from 

 Xalapa, in Mexico, Vnence we chiefly import it. It grows in the 

 woods near Chicanquiaco, at an altitude of 6,000 feet above the 

 level of the sea. Large quantities might be gathered and exported 

 in Jamaica. The root is of a roundish tuberous form, black ex- 

 ternally, and of a deep, yellowish grey within, and varies in size 

 from that of a walnut to that of a moderate sized turnip. It con- 

 tains a resin in which its active properties reside. It is brought 

 to this country in thin transverse slices, and the amount entered 

 for home consumption is about 45,000 lbs. a year. It is imported 

 in bales, from Vera Cruz direct, or indirectly by way of ?^ew York, 

 and other places. 



Two sorts of jalap root occur in commerce. The one which was 

 first introduced into the market, and which is even at the present 

 day most frequently met with, is obtained from the Ipomoea Schie- 

 deana of Zuccarini, a plant growing on the eastern declivity of the 

 Mexican Andes, and discovered by Yon Schiedes, The root, as 

 met with in commerce, consists of pieces varying from the size 

 of a nut to that of the fist, sometimes whole, sometimes cut into 

 disks, and at other times divided into two or three portions. The 

 external surface is of a more or less dark gray brown color, 

 corrugated and rough. It is very hard, presents a shining 

 resinous even surface when broken, and is difficult to reduce to 

 powder. The powder is of a brownish color, has a faint peculiar 

 odor and irritant taste. 



The second quality, which was introduced into commerce iu 

 great quantities a few years ago, by the name of stalk jalap, is 

 now more scarce, and obtained from the Ipomoea orazahensis of 

 Pelletan, a plant growing without cultivation in the neighbour- 

 hood of the Mexican town of Orizaba. The root, as met with 

 in the trade, consists of pieces varying from one to three inches 

 in length, and 1| to two inches in diameter. They are of a 

 higher color than tlie first-named root, and of decidedly fibrous 

 structure. The chief constituents of both varieties is a peculiar 

 resin, of which they contain about 10 per cent. 



SoAMAiojrT. — The root of Convolvulus Scammonia, another 

 plant of the same family, afibrds, when cut, a gummy resinous ex- 

 udation or milky juice, which soon concretes and forms scammony. 

 The plant grows abundantly in Greece, the Grrecian Islands, and 

 various parts of the Levant. It is imported from Aleppo in drums, 

 weighing from 75 to 125 lbs. each, and from Smyrna in compact 

 cakes like wax packed in chests. In 1839, the quantity on which 

 duty (2s. 6d. per lb.) was paid amounted to 8,5811bs. The duty 

 received for scammony, in 1842, was £607. A spurious kind is 

 prepared from Calystegia (Gonvolvalus) sejnum, a native of Aus- 

 tralia, and several plants of the Aselepiadacse order. 



