Polygala seneka. 124 
It is a common practice to combine calomel with the seneka, and 
also Virginian snake-root. In union with the latter, [have seen much 
good effect from it in typhoid pneumonia. When combined with 
calomel, it should be reduced to powder, and made into boluses, of 
which the dose is, for an adult, about a scruple three or four times a 
day. The dose of the powdered root alone, is from thirty grains to 
two scruples ; but as in this form it is apt to operate as a purgative, and 
sometimes as an emetic, itis preferred to give the decoction, which 
may be made by boiling an ounce of the root in a pound and an half 
of water, till it is reduced to a pound; and of this a table-spoonful is 
a dose, frequently repeated. 
The discovery of the valuable emenagogue virtues of the seneka, 
originated many years ago, with my friend Dr. Hartshorne, an emi- 
nent surgeon of this city, whose experience, and habits of searching 
observation in the practice of his profession, warrant me in quoting 
him as authority of the highest value. From him I have recently 
learned the following facts: that he still continues to prescribe the 
seneka in amenorrheea, with unimpaired confidence, resulting from 
much experience with its peculiar, (perhaps specific) operation in this 
disease. He has prescribed it many times, when the suppression of 
the catamenia was of very long standing, but in these cases its efficacy 
seems less conspicuous than in more recent cases. His usual mode 
of administering it, is in saturated decoction, to the extent of a pint in 
twenty-four hours, commencing about two weeks previous to the 
VoL. I 416 
