74 
SENNA. 
Ess.  Sennae  Dulc,  that  the  latter  part  of  the  bottle  of  essence 
is  never  so  active  as  the  first.  Particular  care,  therefore,  should 
be  taken  to  obviate  fermentation.  The  best  way  to  do  so  is  to 
add  to  each  fluid  ounce  of  syrup  two  minims  of  chloroform  dis- 
solved in  a  little  alcohol.  •  Chloroform  will  not  only  prevent  fer- 
mentation, 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  experiments  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  Mesne.  Pomet  states  that  they  are  equally 
efficacious  as  the  leaves,  without  partaking  of  their  noisome 
flavor.  Dodoens  gives  a  very  quaint  and  accurate  summary  of 
the  whole  therapeutical  question,  part  of  which  I  will,  as  a  con- 
clusion, venture  to  transcribe  : — 
"  The  coddes  and  leaves  of  sena  are  hoate  in  the  seconde  de- 
gree 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  melancholic. 
"  The  leaves  of  sena  are  good  for  people  that  are  geven  to  be 
sadde,  and  pensive,  dul,  and  feareful,  and  that  are  sodainely 
afray d  for  litle  or  nothing.  They  are  good  agaynst  all  stoppinges  of 
the  liver,  the  splene,  agaynst  the  paynes  of  the  head,  the  scurfi'e, 
manginesse,  itche,  and  lepzie.  In  fewe  wordes,  the  purgation 
made  with  the  leaves  of  sena,  is  good  agaynst  all  diseases  spring- 
ing of  melancholic,  adust,  and  salt  humors. 
"  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  operation.  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." 
