Posted 12 years ago
cwpost
(122 items)
Found in the New York City's South Bronxt, the Dutch Delft pharmacy pot measures 13 inches tall including it's metal cover and is about 7 inches in diameter.
Both Dutch Delft pharmacy pot,late 19th or early 20th century, are inscribed 1) E LENITIV (laxative), 2) SCAMONEIA an oval blue panel, and elaborate cartouche surmounted by deer. Condition: no cracks to rim and some glaze wear to raised band.
Unsolved Mistery: Correct translation for 1) E LENITIV, 2) SCAMONEIA.
Lenitiv is laxative, and I believe Scamoniea is a sort of purgative.
Thank you much..........
E. Lenitiv is short for Electuarium Lenitivum.
Lénitif fin (Fr) (It, Lentitivo elettuario) (L, Electuarium lenitivum) Electuary having mild purgative action, made from senna, tamarind pulp, prunes, polypody rhizome, liquorice and other ingredients.
http://www.eurekaencyclopedia.com/index.php/Category:Purgatives
The other Scamoneia is another Electuary, I think. An Electuary is a soft paste made by mixing a drug with a sweetener, treacle, honey or sugar. A convenient way of applying a drug orally or to the throat or pharynx of an animal/human.
http://www.searchdictionaries.com/?q=electuary
In Latin it is called either Confectio Scammoniae or Confectio Scammonite. In English Electuary of Scammony. Scammony (Convolvulus scammonia) is a Mediterranean bindweed.
This is the really heavy purgative. It would rip the insides out of you!
"The active principle is the glucoside scammonin or jalapin, C34H114O6. The dose of scammonium is 5 to 10 grains, of scammony resin 3 to 8 grains. Like certain other resins, scammony is inert until it has passed from the stomach into the duodenum, where it meets the bile, a chemical reaction occurring between it and the taurocholate and glycocholate of sodium, whereby it is converted into a powerful purgative. Its action is essentially that of a hydragogue, and is exercised upon practically the entire length of the alimentary canal. The drug is not a cholagogue, nor does it markedly affect the muscular coat of the bowel, but it causes a great increase of secretion from the intestinal glands. It acts in about four hours. In large doses it is, of course, a violent gastrointestinal irritant. In consonance with the statement that scammony acts only after admixture with the bile, is the fact that hypodermic or intravenous injection of the drug produces no purgation, or indeed any other result. The drug frequently kills both roundworm and tapeworm, especially the former, and is therefore an anthelmintic. It is not largely used, but is very effective in the treatment of severe constipation, especially in children."
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scammony
WOW SUCH BEAUTY!!