26 
SCAMMONY AND JALAP. 
As the Malabar Cardamom is, according to Moon, also 
cultivated at Kandy, it is probable that it constitutes a part 
of the above exports. I have not been able to ascertain 
the quantities exported subsequently to the year 1813. 
Percival* observes, that " Cardamoms grow in the South- 
east part of the island [Ceylon,] particularly in the neigh- 
borhood of Matura. The seeds in taste resemble our cara- 
ways, and are used for seasoning various dishes." Moon 
also states that the seeds are esculent. 
Pharm. Journ. and Trans. 
ART. VI. — SCAMMONY AND JALAP : IDENTITY OF THEIR 
ACTIVE PRINCIPLES. By Henry Osborn. 
It does not appear to have been noticed by any Pharma- 
ceutical author, that scammony and jalap, which are two of 
the most important vegetable purgatives we possess, are 
identical, as regards their medicinal properties; but lam 
induced to conclude that such is the case, from the result of 
the following experiments, and will leave others to judge as 
to whether I am correct ; for I believe it is quite time that 
some plan should be adopted for obtaining scammony at 
much less expense, as an inferior article is so often sold and 
purchased by those who are fond of gaining custom, by re- 
ducing their prices, which does not contain one-half as much 
of the medicinal property as that imported from Aleppo. 
To prove this, however, it is only necessary to digest one 
drachm of scammony powder in rectified spirit until all the 
* Account of Ceylon ; to which is added the Journal of an Embassy 
to the Court of Kandy. 4to. Lond. 1803. 
