Revision as of 14:59, 12 May 2016

Scammony

A Compendium of Domestic Medicine, 1865

All page numbers are recorded as (PDF #/SOURCE #)

Classified by Savory as an Aperient and Purgative (411/390)

“Is an effacious and a powerful cathartic, very eligible in worm cases, and in the disordered state of bowels which so commonly occurs in children.” It is often combined with other purgatives. “Scammony, though so liable to disagree, is often required in the treatment of children, when the bowels are difficult to move, or loaded with mucus, which prevent the action of other purgatives, but which scammony in particular seems to possess the power of removing; hence its utility in obstinate constipation, the removal of worms, &c. &c.” (98/77)

Remedies Containing or to be used with

• Aloes, Socotrine (34/13): scammony in powder included in “The Compound Cathartic Pill with Aloes”
• Calomel (57/36): scammony included in “Strong Purgative Powder for Children”
• Extract of Ox-Gall (88/67): scammony included in “Stomachic Aperient Pills”
• Gum Scammony (98/77): included in “Scammony with Chalk,” and (scammony) “Sacmmony with Rhubarb,” (powdered scammony), both of which being good remedies to give to children. “Scammony Biscuits” are also used, and another pill containing scammony (powdered) is also given by Savory (99/78)
• Jalap (109/88): can be combined with scammony
• Rhubarb, Turkey (145/124): sometimes combined with scammony. “it moderates their [scammony’s] activity, and counteracts their tendeny to lower the tone of the alimentary canal.”

Diseases Treated with

General Diseases

• Gout (256/235): scammony can be used as a preventative for gout, although Savory indicates that the best preventative is regular exercise, removing any acidity of the stomach, remaining in a temperate environment, and “paying strict attention to the functions of the digestive organs”
• Menstruation (267/246) Retention of the Menses, and Chlorosis—Green Sickness: scammony can be used to help purge
• Water in the Head (304/83): Powdered scammony is included in powders that can be given to children

Prescriptions Containing

Aperients and Cathartics

• Aperient Pills (334/313): scammony
• Purgative Powder (335/314): powdered scammony
• Purgative Pills for General Use (336/315): powdered scammony

Anthelminics

• Anthelmintic Powder (Another) (336/315): powdered scammony

Imported from

• Turkey Proper
• Syria and Palestine
• Egypt

Description