( '4 )

and contains a milky juice; the ftalks are numerous, flender, twining, and fpread themfelves upon the ground, or neighbouring trees, to the extent of fifteen or twenty feet; the leaves are arrow-fhaped, fmooth, of a bright green colour, and (land upon long footftalks : the flowers are funnel-fliaped, yellowifh, plicated, and, according to Dr. Ruflel, placed in pairs upon the pedicles : the calyx is double, confifting of four emarginated leaflets in each row : the capfule is three and fometimes four locular,'^ containing feeds of a pyramidical fhape. No part of the dried plant pofTefTes any medicinal quality but the root, which Dr. Ruflfel adminiflered in decodlion, and found it to be a pleafant and mild cathartic. It is from the milky juice of the root that we obtain the officinal Scammony, which is procured in the following manner by the peafants, who colled; it in the beginning of June : “ “ Having “ cleared away the earth from about the root, they cut off the top, “ in an oblique diredion, about two inches below where the flalks “ fpring from it. Under the moft depending part of the Hope they “ fix a fhell, or fome other convenient receptacle, into which the ‘‘ milky juice gradually flows. It is left there about twelve hours, which time is fufficient for draining off the whole juice : this, “ however, is in fmall quantity, each root affording but a very “ few drams. I his juice from the feveral roots is put together, “ often into the leg of an old boot, for want of fome more proper “ veffel, where in a little time it grows hard, and is the genuine ‘‘ Scammony.” This concrete is a gummy-refin, generally of a light, Ihining, grey colour, and friable texture. It is brought from Aleppo and Smyrna ; that which comes from the latter place is lefs valued than the former, and is fuppofed to be more ponderous and of a deeper colour ; but the colour affords no tell of the goodnefs

• The Caps i-locularis of Linnaeus, ought to be corredled.

“ Dr. Rullel’s Defcription of this plant in the Medical Obfervations and Inquiries, V. I. p. i8.

• • The Jews make it their bufinefs to go to the places where the Scammony is col-

lefted, and there -buying it while yet foft, have an opportunity of mixing it with fuch things as beft anfwers their purpofe ; as wheat-flower, aflies, fine fand, with all of which Dr. Ruflel found it adulterated. The pureft Scammony is therefore the mofl active and mofl: foluble. of