202 
BRITISH PHARMACEUTICAL CONFERENCE. 
Chloroform will not only prevent fermentation, but will at once arrest it when 
in full swing. The fact is worth repeating, if already known. 
As regards the relative values of Alexandrian and Tinivelly sennas, my ex¬ 
periments go to prove that the former yields half as much again of the active 
principle as does the latter. 
I have made no experiments on the follicles of senna. They were preferred 
by Mesue. Pomet states that they are equally efficacious as the leaves, without 
partaking of their noisome flavour. Dodoens gives a very quaint and accurate 
summary of the whole therapeutical question, part of which I will, as a conclu¬ 
sion, venture to transcribe :— 
“ The coddes and leaves of sena are hoate in the seconde degree and drie in 
the first. 
“ The coddes and leaves of sena taken in the quantitie of a dram, do lose and 
purge the belly, scoure away fleme and choler, especially black choler and me¬ 
lancholic. 
“ The leaves of sena are good for people that are geven to be sadde, and 
pensive, dul, and feareful, and that are sodainely afrayd for litle or nothing. 
They are good agaynst all stoppinges of the liver, the splene, agaynst the 
paynes of the head, the scurffe, manginesse, itche, and lepzie. In fewe wordes, 
the purgation made with the leaves of sena, is good agaynst all diseases spring¬ 
ing of tnelancholie, adust, and salt humours. 
“ The coddes, after the opinion of Mesue, are best to be used in medicine, 
and next the leaves, but the stalkes and branches are unprofitable. Sena 
provoketh windinesse and gripinges of the belly, and is of a very slacke opera¬ 
tion. For a correction or remedie, you must put to sena annys seede, ginger, 
and some sal gemme, or you must boyl it with annys seede, raysons, and a 
little ginger; for being so prepared and drest, it maketh his operation quickly 
and without any greefe.” 
Mr. Deane stated that, according to his experience, the nearly colourless liquors, 
obtained in the final stages of percolating senna by means of water, had still great pur¬ 
gative properties. 
The President pointed out the importance of the paper as indicating that alcohol 
was a bad menstruum for the active principle of senna, whilst water was evidently much 
better suited for the exhaustion of the drug. He was reminded that some years since, 
his firm had to dispense the prescriptions of a Herman physician for infusion of senna 
deprived of resin by alcohol. Now, according to -the important results recorded by Mr. 
Groves, the purgative qualities of such an infusion would not be impaired by the pre¬ 
liminary treatment with alcohol. 
Professor Attfield said that the Senior Bell Scholar in the laboratory of the 
Pharmaceutical Society was investigating the senna acids alluded to by the author of 
the paper, but the extreme heat of the present summer had so far increased the proneness 
to change exhibited by infusions of senna that the continuous prosecution of the inquiry 
was delayed. 
Mr. Abraham quoted the late Mr. Duncan, of Edinburgh, as a high authority on the 
subject of senna, and he held the opinion that cold water should always be used for ex¬ 
hausting senna, because the results had not the griping qualities which resulted when 
hot water was employed. Mr. Abraham said that his own experience coincided with 
this view. 
Mr. Groves, in his reply upon the discussion, stated his belief that the griping pro¬ 
duced by senna depended upon the greater or less strength of the preparations used. 
