SENEGA. 203 



irritant, causing reflex hyperaemia, sneezing, cough, and mucous 

 flow. These effects are not employed, but are a key to its 

 remote local action. Solutions of saponin injected under the 

 skin are violent local irritants and general depressants ; the 

 heart, vessels, central and peripheral nervous system, and 

 muscles being dangerously affected. 



Internally. The action of senega on the stomach and 

 intestines is moderately irritant, large doses causing epigastric 

 heat, sickness, and diarrhoea ; and medicinal doses deranging 

 digestion. The absence of severe general symptoms indicates 

 the difficulty of its absorption by the stomach. 



2. ACTION IN THE BLOOD, AND SPECIFIC ACTION. 



Saponin passes through the blood to the tissues. Senega 

 diminishes the frequency of the heart, and probably affects the 

 circulation much like digitalis, but in a manner which is 

 more uncertain or at least still obscure. 



3. REMOTE LOCAL ACTION AND USES. 



Saponin appears to be excreted in part by the bronchial 

 mucosa, which it stimulates thus remotely as it does when locally 

 applied. The circulatory, muscular, and nutritive activity of the 

 tubes is increased ; the mucous secretion rendered more abundant 

 and watery ; and the efferent nerves stimulated, so that reflex 

 cough is the result. The total action is said to be expectorant, 

 the bronchial contents being expelled with greater force, and in 

 greater volume, i.e. more readily and easily. Senega is in 

 common use as a stimulant expectorant in the second stage 

 of acute bronchitis, in chronic bronchitis, and in dilated bronchi, 

 to liquefy and evacuate the contents of the tubes or cavities, and 

 stimulate the "weak" surface of the mucous membrane. It is 

 manifestly contra-indicated in acute bronchitis, phthisis, and 

 when the digestion is feeble or deranged. Saponin is probably 

 excreted in part by the skin and kidneys, both of which it 

 slightly stimulates, increasing the volume of urine, and its 

 most important solid constituents. 



Krameriae Radix RHATANY ROOT. The dried 

 root of Krameria triandra. Imported from Peru. 



Characters. About an inch in diameter, branches numerous, 

 long, brownish-red and rough externally, reddish-yellow inter- 

 nally, strongly astringent, tinging the saliva red. 



Composition. Khatany root contains from 20 to 45 per 



