SENNA 411 



psoriasis the follwing ointment is useful after tlie scales have been 

 washed off: 



Chrysarobini 3i. 



Aetheris. 



Alcoholis aa q. s. ft. sol. 



CoUodii gii. 



M. 



Slg. Apply with brush to skin. 



Senna. Senna. 



Synonym. — Senna Alexandrina, senna Indica, B. P.; senna leaves, E.; folia 

 •senniE, P. G.; feuilles de s£>n6, Fr. ; sennesblatter, G. 



The dried- leaflets of Cassia acutifolia Delile, known in commerce as Alex- 

 andria senna, or of Cassia atigustifolia Vahl, known in commerce as India senna 

 (Fam. Leguminosw). 



Description. — Alexandria Senna — Usually unbroken, occasionally in fragments, 

 leaflets inequilaterally lanceolate or lance-ovate, from 2 to 3.6 cm. in length and 

 from 6 to 10 mm. in breadth, having extremely short, stout petiolules; acutely 

 cuspidate, entire, subcoriaceous, brittle, pale green or grayish-green, sparsely and 

 obscurely hairy, especially beneath, the hairs appressed; odor characteristic, 

 taste somewhat mucilaginous and bitter. 



Pods few, broadly elliptical, somewhat reniform, dark green, thin and mem- 

 branous. 



India Senna — Leaflets usually unbroken, from 2 to 5 cm. in length and from 

 6 to 14 mm. in breadth, usually more abruptly pointed than those of Alexandri.i 

 senna, yellowish-green and smooth above, paler beneath; in odor and taste closely 

 resembling Alexandria senna. 



Pods few, elliptical, more or less reniform and from 4 to 5 cm. in length. 



Powdered Alexandria senna is light green. 



Habitat. — Alexandria Senna. — Upper Egypt, Nubia, and Central Africa. 



Indian Senna, or Tinnivelly Senna. — Eastern Africa to India. 



Constituents. — 1, the purgative properties are chiefly due to magnesium and 

 calcium cathartates; salts of cathartin (CisoHiojNjjSOi), a, black, amorphous sul- 

 phurated glucoside; 2, two glucosides, sennacrol and sennapicrin, insoluble in 

 water; 3, chrysophanic acid; 4, cathartomannit (CjiHjjOio), an unfermentable 

 sugar; 5, emodin. 



Dose.—H. & C, Siv-v, (120-150); Sh. & Sw., gi-ii, (30-60); D. & C, 3i-iv, 

 (4-15) ; fowl, gr.xv-xx in pills. 



PREPARATIONS. 



Fhiidextractum Senna:. Fluidextract of Senna. (U. S. P.) 

 Made by maceration and percolation with diluted alcohol, and evaporation, ?o 

 that 1 mil=l Gm. of the crude drug. 

 Dose. — Same as senna. 



Pulvis Olycyrrhizw Compositus. Compound Powder of Glycyrrhiza. 

 (U. S. & B. P.) 

 Synonym. — Compound liquorice powder. 



Senna, 180; glycyrrhiza, 236; washed sulphur, 80; oil of fennel, 4; sugar, 500. 

 Dose. — D., 3ss-ii, (2-8). 



Syrupus Sernna: (U. S. & B. P.) 

 . Z>o««.— D., 3i-iv, (4-15). 



Action Internal. — Senna stimulates and increases the vascularity of 

 the intestinal mucous membrane, and causes increased peristalsis of the 

 large intestines, particularly of the colon. It produces copious pale- 

 yellow and watery evacuations. The drug has a nauseous taste and purg- 

 ing is accompanied by some griping and flatulence. Senna acts more 

 satisfactorily when combined with other purgative agents. It is absorbed 



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