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Show A18 SENNA, OR EGYPTIANCASSIA;s SENNA, OR ZGYPTIAN CASSIA. about a quarter of an oblong figure, sharp-pointedat the ends, h, of alively yellowish inch broad, and not a fall inch in lengt le smell, and a subgreen colour, a faint, not very disagreeab acrid, bitterish, nauseous taste. Someinferior sorts are brought hed by their from other places: these may beeasily distinguis ted, from Mocha; beingeither narrower, longer, and sharperpoin small prominent with or larger, broader, and round pointed, green colour, fresh a of e, obtus veins, from Italy ; orlarge and li. Tripo from without any yellow cast, the leaves of It has been customary to reject the pedicles of s; but this is a senna, as causing gripes and pains in the bowel the, very same mere prejudice, for both leaves and pedicles act in olic exway. Neumann from 480 parts of senna got 143 alcoh watery, y, 245 ersel tract, and afterwards 140 watery; andinv and only 28 alcoholic ; so that it seems to consist chictly of mucilage aud extractive matter. MEDICAL USE. Senna is a very useful cathartic, operating mildly, and yet occaeffectually ; and, if judiciously dosed and managed, rarely sioning the ill consequences which too frequently follow the exhibition of the stronger purges. The only inconveniencies complained of in this drug are, its being apt to gripe, and its nauseous flavour. ‘These are best obviated by adding to the senna some aromatic substance, as ginger, cinnamon, &c., and by facilitating its operation by drinking plentifully of any mild diluent. Senna maybegiven in substance to the extent of about a drachm ; but it is rather too bulky, and it is therefore better to divide it into two doses, and to take one half at night, and the other in the morning. It is more conveniently given in the form of infusion, which is generally made by pouring about six ounces of boiling water upon from two to six drachms of senna leaves in a tea-pot, andletting it stand for a few minutes, whenit may be sweetened, and a little milk added to it, and taken as tea, or even inixed with tea to deceive children, who will take it so; or this tea maybe boiled withsliced apples with sugar with it, when it will be readily taken. Senna ought never to be ordered in decoction, Gren says, because it becomes perfectly inert, from the total dissipation of the nauseous and volatile principle on which its’ purgative effects depend. The tincture, on account 419 of the menstruum, cannot be given in doses large enough to purge. PREPARATIONS. Simprne Inruston of SENNA. (Infusum Senne Simplex. L.) Take of senna, an ounce anda half ; ginger, powdered, one drachm; boiling distilled water, one pint: Macerate them for an hour in a coveredvessel, andstrain the liquor whencold. Inrusron or Senna. : (Infusum Senne. D,) Take of senna, three drachms ; -—— lesser cardamom seeds, husked and bruised, half a drachm ; boiling water, as much as will yield a filtered infusion of six ounces: Digest for an hour, and filter, when cold. This is a well contrived purgative infusion, the aromatic cor- recting the drastic effects of the senna. But the quantity ordered to be prepared at one time by the Londoncollege is much too large, for an ounce or two is a sufficient dose. It is of advantage that it should be used fresh prepared, as it is apt to spoil very quickly. Tarrarisep Inrusion or Senna. (Infusum Senne Tar tarisatum. L.) Take of senna, one ounce anda half; coriander seeds, bruised, half an ounce ; crystals of tartar, two drachms ; ——— distilled water, one pint: Dissolve the crystals of.tartar by boiling in the water ; then pour the liquor, as yet boiling, on the senna and seeds. Macerate for an hour in a covered vessel, and strain whencold. The addition of the stipertartrate of potash renders the taste of the senna less unpleasant, and also promotes its action. The quantity to take as a purge is fram half an ounce to an ounce early in the morning. Inrusion of Sexna with TaMaRinDs. (Infasum Senne cum Tamarindis. D.) Add to the infusion of senna, before it be strained, an- ounce of tamarinds; thenstrain. 222 |