Page:The New International Encyclopædia 1st ed. v. 11.djvu/115

* JALAP. 99 JAMAICA. a plant of the natural order Convolvulaceae. It is found in Mexico, at an elevation of about 6000 feet above the level of the sea^ in the neighbor- hood of the town of Jalapa or Xalapa. from wliioh its name is derived. It is a perennial twining plant, with large flowers and a turnip- like root, varying from the size of a hazel-nut to that of a man's fist. Tlie roots when fresh are white and fieshy, and abound in a milky juice. They are prepared for the market by drying. Jalap was long erroneously referred to other plants, annong them Mirabilis Jalupa, known in Uower-gardens as marvel of Peru. Jalap seems to have been first introduced into Kngland as a medicine about 1609. The dried roots are brown and wrinkled ex- ternally, and of a deep yellowish-gray color in- ternally; their odor is faint and disagreeable and their taste is nauseous. The active ingredi- ent is the resinous portion, which contains con- volvulin. Jalap resin may be distinguished from common resin by its insolubility in volatile oils. Jalap is a valuable cathartic, but is seldom given alone. It is an ingredient of the compound cathartic pill of the United States Pharmacopoeia. Its purgative action is increased by the addition of a little calomel, and its hydragogue action by bitartrate of potash, while its tendency to pro- duce griping is obviated by the addition of a little ginger. In the form of compound jalap powder, which consists of one part of powdered jalap, two parts of bitartrate of potash, and a little ginger, it is of great sen'ice in some kinds of dropsy, in consequence of its hydragogue action. JALAPA, or XALAPA, H.i-la'pa. The capi- tal of the J^tate of Vera Cruz, Jlexico, situated at an elevation of 433.5 feet on the slope of the ex- tinct volcano of Cofre de Perote, 60 miles north- west of Vera Cruz (Map: Mexico. L 8). The town is surrounded by gardens, and is much frequented as a health resort by the people of Vera Cruz. It is well built, with a handsome plaza and beauti- ful promenades in the suburbs, and has a fine cathedral, containing paintings by the Spanish masters, a Franciscan convent built in 1.5.56, va- rious schools, and hospitals. It has several times been the capital of the State, and prior to the advent of railways had considerable importance, being on the route connecting Mexico City with Vera Cruz. Population, in 189.5, 18,173. JALISCO, or XALISCO, Ha-le'skft. One of the Pacific States of Mexico, bounded by the Ter- ritory of Tepic and the States of Zacatecas and Aguas Calientes on the north, Guanajuato and Michoacan on the east, Miehoacan and Colima on the south, and the Pacific Ocean on the west (Map: Mexico, G 7). Area, 31,846 square miles. The narrow strip of coastland is low and well in- dented. Tiie western part of the State rises toward the Sierra Madre in a series of terraced ]ilateaus, on which are scattered a number of volcanic cones and isolated peaks, the two high- est of which are the volcano Colima ( 12.750 feet), and the extinct Nevado ( 14,854 feet). The central portion is occupied by the Sierra Madre del Pacifico, which divides the State into two parts, the eastern half forming a part of the great Mexican central plateau, Anahuac (q.v. ), with an elevation of over 5000 feet, .laliseo has numerous lakes, including the largest lake of Mexico, Chapala (q.v.), drained by the Rio Grande de Santiago, which, with its tributary, the Verde, is the chief river of the State. The climate is hot and un- healthful in the lowlands of the coast, but mod- erate in the interior. The soil is very fertile along the rivers and in the eastern part of the State. Com, wheat, tobacco, cotton, sugar, and indigo are the chief agricultural products. Stock- raising is also carried on to some extent, and rich silver-mines are worked. The chief manufactured products are coarse cotton and woolen goods, pottery, saddleiy, and products of tobacco. Popu- lation, in 1900, 1,137,311, consisting largely of Indians. The State is one of the most prosperous and wealthy of Mexico. The capital is Guadalo.- jara (q.v.). Jalisco once formed a part of the Kingdom of Nueva Galicia. JALTJIT. See Marshall Islands. JAMAICA, ja-ma'ka. The largest of the British West Indian Islands, situated 90 miles south of Cuba and 100 miles west of Haiti, be- tween latitudes 17° 40' and 18° 30' N., and longitudes 76° 10' and 78° 30' W. (ilap: West Indies, H 5). It is 144 miles in its greatest length, and about 50 miles in its widest part. Area, about 4200 square miles. The surface rises gradually from the lowlands of the western coast toward the mountainous regions of the central part, where some of the peaks attain the altitude of over 7000 feet. The most important chain is the Blue Mountains, occupying the eastern end of the island and containing the highest sum- mits. Jamaica is favored with a well-indent- ed coast-line. There are about sixteen harbors, the most important being on the southern coast ; besides, there are numerous smaller inlets af- fording safe anchorage for small ves.sels. The rivers of the island are numerous, and flow north and south, the central mountain range forming the watershed between the two systems. Most of the rivers are unnavigable on account of their turbulence, and occasionally cause disastrous floods. The most important are the Plantain Garden River, the Black River, Salt River, and Cabarita. Some of the streams are utilized for irrigating the sugar and fruit plantations. The .soil is composed largely of .sedimentary deposits derived from the red and white limestone forma- tions which overlie the primitive granite that forms the main structure of the island. Some volcanic rocks in the eastern part of the island and a number of hot mineral springs afford the only evidence of volcanic action. In the general characteristics of its flora and