B12 
ON  SPECIES  ST.  GERMAIN. 
ON  SPECIES  ST.  GERMAIN. 
By  the  Editor. 
This  compound  of  senna  and  aromatics  is  considerably  used  in 
Philadelphia,  and  perhaps  elsewhere.  The  following  receipt  for 
it  is  found  in  Redwood's  Supplement  to  the  Pharmacopoeia,  trans- 
lated for  the  Prussian  Pharmacopoeia. 
Species  Laxantes  St.  Germain.  Species  Prothea  St.  Germain. 
St.  Germain  Laxative  Powder. 
Take  of  Senna  leaves,  exhausted  with  spirit,  four  ounces, 
Elder  flowers,  two  ounces  and  a  half, 
Fennel  seed, 
Anise  seeds,  of  each  an  ounce  and  a  quarter. 
Well  cut  and  bruise  them,  and  mix  together,  and  when  dis- 
pensing, add 
Purified  cream  of  tartar,  six  drachms* 
The  dose  of  this  powder  is  80  grains  drank  as  an  infusion. 
The  object  of  treating  the  senna  with  alcohol  is  to  deprive  it 
of  odorous  matter,  and  perhaps  of  some  resinoid  matter  con- 
cerned in  the  production  of  griping.  The  spirit  used  should 
be  alcohol  (-835].  When  the  tincture  from  a  pound  (7000  grains) 
of  powdered  senna  is  evaporated  to  an  extract/it  yields  1440  grs. 
which  has  a  dark  green  color  and  strong  odor  of  senna.  Whether 
it  possesses  the  purgative  properties  of  senna  to  any  extent,  we  do 
not  know,  but  should  doubt  much  its  purgative  value.  On  a  recent 
occasion,  a  lady  who  habitually  uses  this  preparation,  and  about 
to  spend  some  time  in  Europe,  was  desirous  to  have  it  put  up  in 
the  most  convenient  form.  We  suggested  that  a  fine  powder  would 
be  very  convenient,  as  she  could  take  her  dose  (of  20  grs.)  in  sub- 
stance, stirred  in  a  wine  glassful  of  water,  when  it  was  not  con- 
venient to  make  the  infusion.  Another  advantage  of  this  form  of 
the  preparation  is  that  it  may  be  dispensed  in  bulk  by  the  ounce 
or  pound,  as  the  ingredients  are  uniformly  mixed.  The  patient 
soon  acquires  by  practice  a  knowledge  of  the  dose  by  measuring 
with  a  spoon, 
