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PHARMA COGNOSY. 
CASSIA FISTULA (Purging- Cassia). 
The ripe fruit of Cassia Fistula (Fam. Leguminosse), 
a tree indigenous to India, and naturalized in Tropical 
Africa, South America and the West Indies. The 
principal supply of the drug used in this country comes 
from Tropical America. 
Description. — Legume, many -celled, indehiscent 
cylindrical, 25 to 50 cm. long, 15 to 20 mm. in diame- 
ter; externally reddish brown, apex acute or acumi- 
nate, base rounded, sometimes with a woody pedicel 
about 15 mm. long and 4 mm. in diameter, smooth, 
shiny, transversely striate, on one side a longitudinal 
groove (the ventral suture), and on the other a smooth 
line or slight ridge (the dorsal suture) ; pericarp hard 
and woody ; internally divided by transverse partitions 
into numerous compartments about 5 mm. long, each 
containing a brownish-black pulp and a single seed ; 
seed anatropous, ovoid, compressed, about 8 mm. long, 
6 mm. wide, 4 mm. thick, light brown, the raphe as a 
distinct line on one of the compressed sides, internally 
light yellow, embryo curved and imbedded in the endo- 
sperm ; odor of pulp distinct, prune-like ; taste sweet. 
Constituents. — Sugar 50 to 60 per cent, (in the pulp). 
VANILLA. 
The fruit of Vanilla planifolia (Fam. Orchidaceae), a 
perennial climber indigenous to Eastern Mexico, and 
now cultivated in various tropical islands, including 
the Seychelles, Mauritius, Java, as well as in the prov- 
inces of Vera Cruz and Oaxaca in Mexico, from 
whence the best fruit is derived. The fruits are 
gathered when mature but while still yellowish green, 
and slowly dried, either in the sun or by artificial 
means, during which process the odorous principles 
are developed. 
