CASSIA FISTUI^A. 
207 
germen is round, curved inwardly, without any apparent style, and 
terminated by a simple stigma ; the fruit is a cylindrical pod, from 
one to two feet in length, about the thickness of the human thumb : 
at first soft and green, changing to a dark brown or blackish colour, 
divided transversely into numerous cells, in each of which is con- 
tained a smooth, oval, compressed, yellowish, shining seed, imbed- 
ded in a black pulpy matter. 
The best cassia pods are brought from the East Indies, and are 
distinguished from the West India fruit by their smoothness, and 
smaller size, and also, by the blackness and more grateful flavour of 
their pulp, (which is the only part used medicinally) ; hence they are 
greatly preferred to the latter. In Egypt, we are told, it is the practice 
to gather the pods before they arrive at a perfect state of maturity, 
and to place them in a house, from which the external air is excluded 
as much as possible : the pods are laid in strata of half a foot in depth, 
between which palm leaves are interposed, to prepare them for 
keeping; a sort of fermentation is produced by sprinkling them with 
water, which process is performed for two successive days, they 
are then suffered to remain for forty days, when the pods become 
sufficiently prepared for keeping. Those pods are considered the 
best which are the heaviest, and in which the seeds do not rattle on 
being shaken. 
Sensible and Chemical Properties, &c. The pulp of 
cassia has a weak, sickly odour, and a sweet mncilaginous taste ; it 
is of a viscid consistence, and of a bright shining black colour, and 
turns sour very speedily in warm weather. It is soluble in water, 
and partially so in alcohol and ether ; the watery infusion is of a 
deep brown colour, and yields a precipitate of a yellow colour by 
the oxy muriatic acid ; alcohol and acetate of lead also throw down 
precipitates ; but the infusion is not altered by nut galls, nitrate of 
silver, sulphate of iron, nor by the nitric or sulphuric acids. The 
ethereal and alcoholic tinctures are not affected by the addition of 
water, bnt they leave a small portion of resin on evaporation. 
According to Vauquelin, the components of the pulp of cassia are, 
extractive, sugar, mucus, gelatin, a small portion of resin, and some 
colouring matter. 
Medical Properties and Uses. Cassia pulp is aperient, 
and has been long in use as a gentle laxative for children ; for whom 
it appears to be better adapted than for adults, who require large 
doses to produce any effect. When taken in small quantities it 
operates without occasioning any uneasiness, or griping; but when 
taken in doses sufficient for persons of strong habits it is apt to 
