578 VEGETABLE DEUGS 



It should be applied over a large area -with care, but is one 

 of the most efficient remedies in obstinate diseases of the 

 skin. 



Senna. Senna. 



Synonym. — Senna Alexandrina, senna Indica, B.P.; senna 

 leaves, folia sennse, E.; feuilles de sene, Fr.; sennesblatter, G. 



The leaflets of Cassia acutifolia Delile (Alexandria 

 Senna), and of Cassia augustifolia Vahl (India Senna); (nat. 

 ord. Legumiuosse). 



Description. — Alexandria Senna. — It consists of leaflets 

 about 25 Mm. long and 10 Mm. broad, lanceolate or lance- 

 bval, subcoriaceous, brittle, rather pointed, unequally oblique 

 at the base, entire, grayish-green, somewhat pubescent, of a 

 peculiar odor and a nauseous, bitter taste. 



Impurities. — Argel leaves (Solenostemma Argel Hayne, 

 nat. ord. Asclepiadse), are frequently present. They are 

 thicker, one-veined, wrinkled, glaucous, and even at the base. 



India Senna. — It consists of leaflets 3 to 5 Cm. long, and 

 10 to 15 Mm. broad ; lanceolate, acute, unequally oblique at 

 the base; entire, thin, yellowish-green, nearly smooth ; odor 

 peculiai', somewhat tea-like ; taste mucilaginous, bitter and 

 nauseous. It should be free from stalks, discolored leaves 

 and other admixtures. 



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 cathartic 

 acid (CijoHgeNjSOsj), a black, amorphous glucoside ; 2, two 

 glucosides, sennacrol and sennapicrin, insoluble in water ; 3, 

 chrysophanic acid ; 4, cathartomannit (C^iH^Oi,), an unfer- 

 mentable sugar. 



Dose.—R. & C, I iv.-v. (120.-150.) ; Sh. & Sw., | i.-ii. 

 (30.-60.); D. & C, 3 i.-iv. (4.-15.); fowl, gr. xv.-xx. iu pills. 



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