NAT. ORDER. — LOMENTACE^. 37 
Southern States. I have understood that the Alexandria Senna has 
been cultivated in North Carolina with success. 
Since it appears that we do not obtain pure Senna from Eg-ypt, 
and that the adulterating" plant, or Cassia Senna is much inferior to 
our native species, it cannot be doubted that the cultivation of the 
Cassia Lanceolata and the Cynanchum Olfaolium, and mixing- them 
with the Cassia Marilatidica, would afford a much purer Senna than 
we now use, and at one-fourth the cost of the imported article. These 
facts and hints are certainly not unworthy the attention of our southern 
planters and physicians. 
The Senna italica, or blunt-leaved Senna, is a variety of the 
Alexandrie species, which by its cultivation in the south of France, 
has been found to assume this change : it is far less purgative than the 
pointed-leaved Senna, and consequently should be given in much 
larger doses. It is employed by the inhabitants of Jamaica, where it 
grows in great abundance near, and on the sea coast. 
This plant is hardly ever employed as a cathartic, except in the 
form of an infusion. In order to divest it of its griping quality, which 
it possesses to a considerable degree, it is commonly mixed with other 
substances, such as manna, coriander, fennel, or anise seeds. It is to 
be observed, also, that the powdered Senna is very apt to undergo 
alteration or decomposition, from being suffered to remain exposed to 
a humid atmosphere. In such a situation it becomes covered with a 
kind of pellicle, or mouldiness, which contains a small portion of pot- 
ass. The powder, however, is very seldom employed, except with 
other cathartics. The infusion is disturbed by strong acids, hme wa- 
ter, nitrate of silver, oxymuriate of mercury, acetate of lead, tartarized 
antimony, and by the infusion of yellow cinchona. 
