ON EXTRACT OF SENEG-iE. 
287 
ART. XLIV.— NOTE ON EXTRACT OF SENEGA. 
Extract of Senegas appears to have attracted but little if 
any attention from either the physicians or pharmaceutists of 
this country, while in France it forms one of the catalogue of 
extracts in all the more prominent works on Pharmacy. Here 
the compound syrup of squills, into which senegas equally 
enters, for a long time was the only truly officinal preparation 
of it generally kept, the simple syrup of senegas being little 
used, and the decoction being of course an extemporaneous 
preparation. Latterly, the employment of syrup of senegas 
has, deservedly, increased. The object of this note is to ex- 
hibit a formula for Extract of Senegas, the product of which 
is worthy of attention for its intrinsic value. 
Take of 
Senegas, in coarse powder, 16 ounces. 
Alcohol, 2 pints. 
Water, 4 " 
Mix the alcohol and water, and macerate the senegas in one- 
half of it for two days; place the mixture in a displacement 
filter, and operate with the same menstruum until six pints of 
tincture are obtained. Evaporate this on a water bath till re- 
duced to the consistence of an extract. Senega yields one- 
eighth of its weight of a yellowish brown transparent extract. 
One dram of this extract dissolved in a pint of water yields a 
preparation of the same theoretical, but greater actual strength 
than the officinal decoction, and made in five minutes instead 
of half an hour or an hour. 
