SCAMMONIA. L.E.D.
(Convolvulus Scammonia Gummi-resina.)
Scammonium. D. Scammony.
Qualities. Form, blackish-grey cakes; Taste, bitter and sub-acrid; Odour, heavy and peculiar; when rubbed with water, the surface lathers or lactifies. Specific gravity 1·235. Chemical Composition. Resin is the principal constituent; 16 parts of good Aleppo Scammony yield 11 parts of resin, and 3½ of watery extract. That from Smyrna contains not more than half the quantity of resin, but more extractive, and gum. Solubility. Water, by trituration, takes up one-fourth, alcohol two-thirds, and proof spirit dissolves all, except the impurities. Incompatible Substances. Neither acids, metallic salts, nor ammonia, produce any change in its solutions, but the fixed alkalies occasion yellow precipitates; and yet they do not appear to be medicinally incompatible with it; thus Gaubius, “Scammoneum acidi commixtio[[631]] reddit inertius; alcali fixum, contra, adjuvat.” The mineral acids appear to destroy a part of the substance, without in the least altering the rest. The discrepancy which exists in authors respecting the power of this drug, seems to have arisen from its operation being liable to uncertainty, in consequence of peculiar states of the alimentary canal; for instance, where the intestines are lined with an excess of mucus, it passes through without producing any action, but where the natural mucus is deficient, a small dose of scammony may irritate and even inflame the bowels. In this latter case, my practice has been to administer the purgative in a mucilaginous draught, or emulsion. Med. Uses. It is an efficacious and powerful cathartic, very eligible in worm cases, and in the disordered state of the bowels which so commonly occurs in children. Dose, grs. iij to xv, in the form of powders triturated with sulphate of potass, sugar, or almonds; when given alone, it is apt to irritate the fauces; it may be also administered as a solution, effected by triturating it with a strong decoction of liquorice, and straining. (Form. 78, 83.) Officinal Preparations. Confect: Scammon: L.D. Pulv: Scammon: co. L.E. Extract: Colocynth: co. L. (F) Pulv. Sennæ, co. L.[[632]] (F) Adulterations. Two kinds of Scammony are imported into this country, that from Aleppo, which is the best; and that from Smyrna, which is more compact and ponderous, but less pure: it is commonly mixed with the expressed juice of the cynanchum monspeliacum; it is also sophisticated with flour, sand, and ashes; their presence may be detected by dissolving the sample in proof spirit, when the impurities will sink, and remain undissolved; carbonate of lime is moreover frequently added to Scammony, in which case the sample will effervesce in acids: there is however a compound bearing the name of Scammony, to be met with in the market, which is altogether factitious, consisting of jalap, senna, manna, gamboge, and ivory black. Good Scammony ought to be friable, and when wetted with the finger, it should lactify, or become milky: and the powder should manifest its characteristic odour, which has been compared to that of old ewe milk cheese.
SCILLÆ RADIX. L.E.D. (Scilla Maritima.)
Squill Root. (Bulb.)
Qualities. Odour, none; Taste, bitter, nauseous, and acrid; when much handled, it inflames, and ulcerates the skin. By drying, the bulb loses about four-fifths of its weight, and with very little diminution of its powers, provided that too great a heat has not been applied. Chemical Composition. According to Vogel, gum 6—tannin 24—sugar 6—bitter principle (Scillitin, which is white, transparent, and breaks with a resinous fracture) 35—woody fibre 30. Solubility. Squill gives out its virtues so perfectly to any of the ordinary menstrua, as to render the form of its exhibition, in that respect, a matter of indifference. Incompatible Substances. Alkalies diminish their acrimony and bitterness, and are probably medicinally inconsistent with their diuretic qualities, but farther experiments are required to decide this question: vegetable acids produce no effect upon their sensible qualities, but are said to increase their expectorant power. Med. Uses. According to the dose, and circumstances under which it is administered, it proves expectorant, diuretic, emetic, or purgative; as an expectorant, it can never be employed where pulmonary inflammation exists, for in such cases, instead of promoting, it will check any excretion from the lungs; its combination with a diaphoretic will frequently increase its powers, and generally be a measure of judicious caution. See Form, 133, 134, 135, 139. For the philosophy of its action, the reader must refer to the classification of Expectorants, page 102. As a diuretic, it seems to act by absorption, and we accordingly find, on the authority of Dr. Cullen, that when the squill operates strongly on the stomach and intestines, its diuretic effects are less likely to happen; he therefore found that by accompanying it with an opiate, (Form. 100) the emetic and purgative operation may be avoided, and the squill be thereby carried more entirely to the kidneys. Experience, moreover, has taught us the value of combining this medicine with some mercurial preparation, by which its diuretic powers are very considerably augmented; and it has been farther stated, that such a combination is particularly efficacious in Hydrothorax, especially when it produces inflammation of the gums, and of the glands about the throat, by which action it is supposed to cause a derivation from the exhalants of the pleura, and thereby to diminish the dropsical effusion. (Form: 102, 103, 106, 107, 109, 112, 115,) but we must take care that the remedy does not occasion purging. In the exhibition of squill, it has been often delivered as a rule, to give it to the extent necessary to induce nausea, as affording a test of the medicine being in a state of activity; such a state of the system, moreover, may assist the absorption of the remedy. Dr. Home, in opposition to the opinion of Cullen, maintained that the powers of Squill as a diuretic, were increased by combining it with bodies capable of promoting its full emetic operation: after what has been observed, however, it is unnecessary to dwell upon the mischievious tendency of such a practice. By referring to our tabular arrangement of Diuretics, page 102, the reader will find that I consider its action upon the urinary organs to depend upon its bitter principle (Scillitin) being developed, and carried, by the medium of the circulation, to the secreting vessels of the kidneys, which it thus stimulates by actual contact. As an emetic, it has been advised in solution, in cases of hooping cough, but its extreme uncertainty renders it unfit for exhibition, unless as an adjunct to emetic combinations, as in Form: 65. Plenck makes mention of a child which had convulsions in consequence of taking some Squill. Dose. Of the dried root gr.; to iv. Officinal Preparations. Acetum Scillæ. L.E.D. Pil: Scill: comp: L.E.D. Pulv: Scill: E.D. Syrup. Scill: maritim: E. Tinct: Scill: L.D.
SECALE CORNUTUM.
(Spurred Rye, or Ergot of Rye.)
[Various opinions have been entertained in relation to the nature of Ergot. The most probable is that it is a parasitic fungus, attached to several species of the gramina, but more especially to the rye. It is generally found most abundant in moist situations and in wet seasons. Its taste, at first scarcely perceptible, becomes shortly disagreeable and sub-acrid. By the analysis of Vauquelin, the ergot has been ascertained to contain, 1. A fawn-yellow colouring matter, soluble in alcohol, and having a taste resembling that of fish oil. 2. A white oily matter, of a sweetish taste, which appears to be very abundant. 3. A violet colouring principle, of the same shade as that of orchil, but differing from it by its solubility in alcohol, and which can be readily fixed on aluminated wool and silk. 4. A free acid, supposed to be partly phosphoric. 5. A very abundant vegeto-animal substance, much disposed to putrefaction, and which furnishes a considerable quantity of thick oil and of ammonia by distillation. 6. A small quantity of free ammonia, which can be obtained at the temperature of boiling water. As a medicinal substance, ergot exerts a specific effect upon the uterus, and is very generally used in this country for the purpose of facilitating the process of parturition. From the powerful effects produced by the ergot, it is obvious that it should be used with much caution. Dr. Stearns, to whom the profession is indebted for the first introduction of this article into practice, and who must be considered as our highest authority on this subject, has laid down the following rules by which its administration should be regulated: 1. It should never be administered where nature is competent to a safe delivery. 2. It should never be administered until the regular pains have ceased, or are ineffectual, and there is danger to be apprehended from delay. 3. It should never be administered until the rigidity of the os tincæ has subsided, and a perfect relaxation has been induced. 4. It should never be administered in the incipient stages of labour, nor until the os tincæ is dilated to the size of a dollar. 5. It should never be administered in any case of preternatural presentation that will require the fœtus to be turned. 6. It should never be administered during the continuance of one labour, in larger quantities than thirty grains by decoction in half a pint of water. A table spoonful of this given every ten minutes, generally succeeds better than a larger dose. While this quantity produces its most favourable effects upon the uterus, it does not affect the stomach with nausea or vomiting, which sometimes interrupts its successful operation.