NAT. ORDER. LOMENrACE^. gg 



This tree, which is a native of both the Indies, and of Egypt, 

 was first cultivated in England by Mr. Philip Miller, in 1731. The 

 pods of the East India Cassia are of less diameter, smoother, and 

 afford a blacker, sweeter, and more grateful pulp than those which 

 are brought from the West Indies, South America, or Egypt, and 

 are universally preferred. In Egypt, it is the practice to pluck 

 the Cassia pods before they arrive at a state of maturity, and to 

 place them in a house from which the external air is excluded as 

 much as possible ; the pods are then laid in a strata of half a foot 

 in depth, between which palm leaves are interposed ; the two fol- 

 lowing days the whole is sprinkled with water, in order to promote 

 its fermentation, and the fruit is suffered to remain in this situation 

 forty days, when it is sufficiently prepared for keeping. 



Medical Properties and Uses. The pulp of Cassia has long 

 been used as a laxative medicine ; and being gentle in its operation, 

 and seldom occasioning griping or uneasiness of the bowels, has 

 been thought well adapted to children, and to nervous and delicate 

 females. Adults, however, find this of little effect, unless taken in 

 very large doses, as an ounce or more ; and therefore, to them, this 

 pulp is rarely given alone, but usually in combination with some 

 more active purgative. It has been observed by some, that its pur- 

 gative quality is remarkably promoted by manna; but this effect 

 was never discovered by Dr. Cullen, in his trials — testing its medi- 

 cinal virtues. The U. S. Dispensatory recommend it given in 

 small doses, in " cases of habitual costiveness." In quantities suffi- 

 cient to purge, it occasions nausea, flatulence, and griping. In 

 this country, it is very rarely prescribed, except as an ingredient 

 in the confection of senna, which is a highly pleasant and useful 

 laxative preparation. The dose of the pulp as a laxative, is one or 

 two drachms, — as a purge, one or two ounces. 



