Foreign Vegetables, 31 
A r t 1 c. XI. Of Jalap. 
Jalapa , Jalapium , et Mechoacanna nigra Off. Jalap 
is an oblong Root, in Figure fomething refembling 
a Top or Turnip, thick, denfe, heavy, and cut 
tranfverfly into Pieces, of a dark Colour without, 
and brown or afh-coloured within, r.efinous, hard 
to be broken, and in Tafte fomewhat acrid and nau- 
feous. The belt is denfe, of a brown Colour, hard 
to be broken, refinous, and inflammable. 
It was a Stranger to the Greeks and Arabians , be- 
ing brought into Europe with the other Riches of 
America . It took its Name from Xalapa^ a Town 
of New-Spain , from whence it was fit ft imported 
to us. 
Authors have hitherto been undetermined con- 
cerning the Plant to which it belongs ; foitie fup- 
poling it to be the Bryonia , Mechoacanna nigricans , 
C. B. P. Some the Solanum Mexicanum magno fore , 
C. B. P. and others the Convolvulus Americanus Ja- 
lapium dittus, Raii Hift . The celebrated Tournefort , 
after Father Plumier and Ligonius , afferts that the 
Plant, whofe Root is the officinal Jalap, is like the 
Jalapa offcinarum fruftu rugofo , Infi. R. H. which is 
a Species of the Mirabilis Peruviana or Marvel of 
Peru. [But this is a Miftake ; for Mr. Ploufton , who 
brought the Jalap-Plant over with him from A~ 
meric a, fhewed it to M. Bernard de Juffieu , refid- 
ing at that Time in London , who difcovered it to 
be a true Species of the Convolvulus .] 
The Root of Jalap contains a large Quantity of 
alkaline Salt, with a frnall Proportion of acidy joined 
with fome Sulphur and Earth. Thefe Principks 
being mixed together conftitute a Gum and a 
Refin*, whicare both obtainable in great Plenty 
from the dry Root. For twelves Ounces of Jalap 
in 
