ON COMMERCIAL JALAP. 
487 
was formed on the addition of the tincture of iodine, and wrote to me, saying,—‘ In 
whatever sequence the ingredients are mixed, I find that the whole of the strychnine is 
precipitated by the tinctura iodi; indeed, so strong is the affinity between these two 
ingredients that the two fluid drachms of tinctura iodi are capable of decomposing six 
fluid drachms of the liquor strychnia, producing an insoluble compound of iodine and 
strychnine.’ 
“With a view to test the accuracy of this statement, I have repeated Mr. Young’s 
experiment, and I find it in every respect strictly correct. If one drachm of tinctura 
iodi is added to a solution of three drachms of liquor strychniae in four ounces of water, 
the mixture speedily becomes colourless and almost loses its bitterness, and at the same 
time a dark brown flaky precipitate of iodide of strychnia takes place. The addition of 
iodide of potassium, or a large quantity of spirit, will not serve to prevent the precipi¬ 
tation. 
“ Now, it is obvious that, for medicinal purposes, a mixture in which such a precipitate 
occurs must be almost valueless. The patient not only loses the benefit of the quinine 
or strychnine, but of the iodine also. It is not unreasonable, therefore, to lay down as 
a rule that tincture of iodine ought not to be prescribed in a mixture containing either 
of the above-named alkaloids. Probably a similar reaction would take place with other 
alkaloids, but of these I have no experience. 
“ Another question of practical importance arises out of this observation: May not a 
dilute solution of iodine be advantageously given as an antidote in cases of poisoning 
by strychniue? Neither in Dr. Taylor’s work on poisons, nor in any other work which 
I have had the opportunity of consulting, do I find the slightest reference to iodine as 
an antidote to strychnine; but if a drachm of the tincture of iodine of the Pharmaco¬ 
poeia suffices to precipitate and render insoluble no less than a grain and a half of 
strychnine (three drachms of the liquor strychniae), it is difficult to resist the conclusion 
that, if cautiously administered, iodine may prove a valuable and efficient remedy in 
cases of poisoning by strychnine.” 
ON COMMERCIAL JALAP. 
BY EDWARD R. SQUIBB, M.B. 
A few notes made during the past six years upon the character of this drug, as 
casually met with in the largest market of this country, present some points well 
worthy of serious consideration. 
Ordinary merchantable jalap, from low grade through fair and good up to prime 
quality, yields from 11 to 1625 per cent, of resin, and the proportion of resin is the 
true and"only standard of quality and value. From this it is seen that the drug is so 
variable in quality as to have a range of at least 5*25 per cent, on 16, or that some lots 
are one-third more valuable than others. This taken in connection with the circum¬ 
stance that the stock-in-trade is always below the average, and the better qualities very 
rare, serves to explain the fact that in its more legitimate channels of use this drug, 
within a few years past, has rapidly lost reputation. During the period of this rapid 
decline in quality the price has more rapidly advanced, and this condition is so great a 
temptation to adulteration and falsification that the markets rarely withstand it. In 
the case of jalap the substitution of other roots, the admixture with rootlets and imma¬ 
ture tubers, and the sending to market imperfectly dried, have all been partially 
successful, but the drug is so definite in its physical character, that such falsifications 
could not be practised to a great extent without great damage to the market prices so 
long as the article remained in first hands, and could not be got into the drug mills. 
Some other mode of falsification, therefore, seemed to be required, and this has probably 
been found in a more or less partial exhaustion of the root, without breaking it up, 
before it is sent from the place of production. 
In the early part of 1861 a lot of eighteen bales, of about 200 lbs. eacn, arrived in 
this market, and was powdered and dispersed over the country, containing only T8 per 
cent, of resin. The tubers were fine and large, of good bright colour, good odour, a 
little light in weight, and of a very tough consistence and starchy-looking. They were 
