68 
NAT. ORDER. CONVOLVULACE^. 
and rapid growth, reminded us that, if not a native of this 
country, our chmate and soil was equally well adapted for its 
culture, as that of the older countries. 
The root is the part direated for use, and was formerly kept 
by the druggists, both in England and France. In the beginning 
of June, the earth is removed from the upper part of the roots, 
and an oblique incision is made into each, at the distance of about 
two inches from where the stalk springs up ; a milky juice then 
flows, which is collected in convenient vessels, placed at the most 
depending part. The quantity of juice thus obtained from each 
root, is but a few drachms, which trickles away in about twelve 
hours ; the whole that is collected from the different roots, is then 
transferred to one common receptacle, where, by exposure to the 
air and sun, it hardens. It should be of a bright green color, 
light, friable, with a fracture having a shining, irregular appear- 
ance ; it has an acid taste, and its smell is very peculiar, and rather 
unpleasant. We often meet with this in medicine stores, of various 
colors, varying from a light brown, to nearly a jet black. In its 
recent and soft state, before it is imported, it is often adulterated 
with starch, ashes, juices of other plants, &c., which of course 
renders the article less active. We can best ascertain its value 
by mixing it with water, when the pure scammony will be dis- 
solved or suspended, and the impurities will subside, and may be 
examined. The very best kind of scammony comes from Aleppo, 
which is light and friable ; an inferior sort is imported from Ger- 
many, which is heavy, compact, of a dark color, with scarcely any 
smell, and is found to contain more impurities than the former. 
It contains rather more than fifty per cent of resin, the rest being 
extractive matter and gum. Proof spirit would be its best men- 
struum ; but it is only given in the form of powder. 
■, Medical Properties and Uses. It is rather surprising that some 
authors should have doubted the purgative quality of this article, 
which must be obvious to every one who gives it but a few trials 
