the stalks spring from it. Under the most depending part of the slope they fix a shell, or some other convenient receptacle, into which the milky juice generally flows. It is left then about twelve hours, which time is sufficient for the drawing off the whole juice; this however is in small quantity, each root affording but a very few drams. This milky juice from the several roots is put together, often into the leg of an old boot, for want of some more proper vessel, when in a little time it grows hard, and is the genuine scammony. It is the root only that produces this concrete; for the stalks and leaves near the root even when pressed, afford no signs of a milky juice; though, at the superior extremity of the plant, the leaves and stalks, when strongly pressed, do emit a very thin milky liquor: yet both the quantity is inconsiderable, and, according to the best observation I could make, the quality of it is different; for neither stalks, leaves, flowers, nor seeds, seem to have any purgative quality. Of this entirely pure scammony, but very little is brought to market, the greatest part of what is to be met with, being adulterated, if not by those who gather it, by those who buy it of them abroad; for the chief part of what is brought hither, passes through the hands of a few people chiefly Jews, who make it their business to go to the villages of any note, near which the scammony is collected; as Antioch, Shogre, Elib, Maraash, &c. and then buying it while is is yet soft, they have an opportunity of mixing it with such other things as suit their purpose best; as wheat-flour, ashes, or fine sand, all of which I have found it mixed with; but there seems to be some other ingredient (possibly the expressed juice) which makes it so very hard and indissolvable, that I have not been able to discover it to my satisfaction. QUALITIES AND CHEMICAL PROPERTIES.-"Pure scammony is light, shining when broke, and crumbles with the least force when rubbed between the fingers. If a wetted finger but touches it, it turns immediately milky; and if broke and put into a glass of water, it soon dissolves into a milky liquor of a greenish cast; which, though it lets fall a small sediment after a little time, yet the liquor still retains its milky colour. The colour of scammony seems to be a mark of little consequence, for it is seen of all degrees, from almost jet black to a yellowish white, and all equally good in every respect upon trial; but though it differs so much in colour when in large pieces, yet all good scammony, when powdered, is nearly of the same colour, a brownish white. Those who gather it assert, that the difference of colour proceeds from the different methods of drying it; alleging, that what is dried in the sun will differ widely from what is dried in the shade." (Russell.) This description applies only to what is known in the markets by the name of Aleppo Scammony; but another sort brought from Smyrna is said to be the produce of the Periploca Scammonia. Smyrna Scammony is in compact ponderous masses of a black colour, harder, and of a stronger smell and taste than the other kind, and full of impurities. The smell of scammony is peculiar and nauseous, its taste is bitter, and acrid; with water it forms a greenish coloured opaque liquid. Alcohol dissolves the greatest part of it. Its specific gravity is 1.235. Vogel and Bouillon La Grange have analysed the two varieties as follows:-. Mr. Gate, of Princes Street, Soho, who lived at a large wholesale druggist's in the city, has favoured us with the following receipt for a spurious kind of Scammony, with which the market is supplied by unprincipled men : Take of Gum Scammony, six pounds. Gum Arabic, six pounds Calomel, two ounces. Aleppo Scammony, one pound. Ivory Black, q. s. The whole, after being powdered, is formed into a mass by the addition of water. Dr. Taylor remarks (Poisons, p. 522) "that Scammony, which is much used in medicine, is capable of producing, in large doses, great irritation of the alimentary canal. The medicinal dose is from ten to twenty grains in larger doses its principal effect is to produce hypercatharsis, and to operate injuriously like gamboge and jalap, although it is considered not to be so energetic as either of these substances. "ANALYSIS. Scammony is usually seen under the form of a dark grey powder. Nitric acid turns it immediately brown. Sulphuric acid carbonizes it on contact. Iodine-water acquires with it slowly a deep purple colour. Potash dissolves it in part, and acquires a deep greenish-brown colour. A solution of green sulphate of iron produces with it no marked change; a solution of persulphate is slowly darkened. When heated on platina, it takes fire and burns with a smoky flame, leaving a grey alkaline ash. "Ipecacuanha is not very likely to be mistaken for scammony; nevertheless it will be proper to state the results of some experiments on this powdered root. Ipecacuanha in powder has a fawn-brown colour: by strong nitric acid it is turned of a rich green colour, passing speedily to brown. Sulphuric acid carbonizes it on contact. Iodine-water gives to it a deep blue colour. Potash has no immediate effect, but the liquid becomes slowly brown. A solution of green sulphate of iron produces slowly in the mixture a deep greenish colour: the persulphate is speedily darkened. When heated on platina it burns without melting, and leaves a white ash. Contrajerva powder strikes a blue colour with strong nitric acid, before passing to a brown." |