LEGUMINOSZ. — 527 
_ is recommended in skin affections ; and combined with Henna 
_ is used to dye the hair black. In the Concan the seeds with 
those of Cassia Fistula are pounded with curds and applied to 
4 cure ringworm; the seeds of Cassia obovata are used in a simi- 
_ lar manner. Senna appears to have been introduced into 
_ Europe by the Arabians about the ninth century. In France, 
in 1542, a pound of Senna was valued at 15 sols, the same 
_ price as pepper or ginger. The Arabian Senna, called Sana 
_ Hajazi or Jabali, is the produce of the uncultivated plant; 
- it is collected by the Arabs in a careless manner, and is 
- much mixed with pods, flowers, and portions of the stem; 
_ the natives consider the pods to be quite as efficacious as 
the leaves, 
_ The therapeutic action of Senna pods, as differing widely 
from that of Senna leaves, is the subject of an interesting note 
» 
by Dr. A. W. Macfarlane. (Lancet, July 27th, 1889.) He finds 
the muscular movements of the whole gastro-intestinal canal, 
cting quite as much on the colon and rectum as on the small 
‘intestine. It is slower in its action than an infusion of the 
leaves, but equally certain; an ordinary dose producing one 
“motion, seldom more, of soft consistence, in from eight to ten 
hours, without exciting congestion of the pelvic vessels, in- 
creasing hemorrhagic or menstrual discharges, or causing 
griping or flatulence. When administered regularly for several 
nights, it promotes the natural evacuation of the bowels, so that 
the quantity taken has to be decreased and eventually stopped. 
It has been found useful in cases of hemorrhoids and in con- 
‘Stipation of children as well as the aged. 
Description.—Leaves 5—8, jugate, oval-lanceolate, taper- 
ing from the middle towards the apex, from 1 to 2 inches 
ong, glabrous or scantily pubescent, pale or subglaucous, 
subsessile. Legume from 7 to 8 lines broad; with the base of 
tyle distinctly prominent on its upper edge ; seeds obovate- 
