Foreign Vegetables. 14 i 
The Malabathrum of Biofcorides has the fame 
Virtues with Nard, but in all Intentions is reckon- 
ed more efficacious. It is now feldom ufed in 
Phyfick, except in Venice Treacle and Mithridate. 
Artic. III. Of Sena. 
Senna, Sena, et Folium orientate. Off. Xfvx, Ac - 
tuar. Sene, Arab. Abalfemer Pcrfarum. Under thefe 
Names in the Shops we meet with fmall, dry, 
fattifh Leaves, of a firm Texture, and pointed 
fomething like a Lance, having a green Colour 
with a Call of yellow, a faint Smell, though not 
altogether unpieafant, and a fubacrid, bitterifh, 
naufeous Talle. 
Two Sorts are ufually brought to us. 1. Senna 
Alexandria feu Zeidenfis , aut Sidonia, Alexandrian 
or Sidonian Sena. 2. Senna Tripolitana, Sena of Tri- 
poli, which is much inferior. The Leaves are 
broader than the others, of a pleafant green Colour, 
ending obtufely, and rough to the Touch. Befides 
thefe, we fometimes have the Senna Mochana , Sena 
of Mocha , whofe Leaves are narrower, longer and 
fharper j and likewife the Senna Italica or Italian 
Sena, which is diftinguiffied from the true Sort by 
the Largenefs and Broadnefs of its Leaves, which 
are alfo roundilh at the Extremity, and marked 
with high Veins. But thefe come to us but feldom. 
The bed Sort of Sena is the Alexandrian. It 
ought to be freffi, of a yellowifli green Colour and 
quick Scent, gentle to the Touch, entire, free 
from Stalks and Spots, and to give by Infufion a 
deep Colour to Water. 
Not only the Leaves, but likewife the Fruit or 
Follicles, as they are called, are ufed in Phyfick. 
Thefe are oblong, crooked, fmooth and fiat mem- 
branous Pods, ol a reddifh or dark green Colour, 
containing 
