A new family herbal: or popular account of the natures and properties of the ... by Robert John Thornton Thomas Bewick

Author:Robert John Thornton, Thomas Bewick
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: R. Phillips, 1810

CkutX. Decandria* Order I. Monogynia. Bassarr. Gnr. Ca*a. Grip* five-leated: Prfafr Are: ^itfftert abore tte-

ffla, theJoweroaestarae-teaked: Fruit a legavie. Irac Caxa. £**«* fabowtfe: JVtfofct with glands.

DESCRIPTION.

Ihb stalk rises from two to four tot, resembling a sEirab, and «ndiog out hollow woody items. Leares in alternate order, am} x>mpoand, composed of several pair of oval, pointed, and nerved riiuuB, of a yellowish green colour. Flowers yellow, forming i spike, consisting of fire petals. The pod is curved and abort

HISTORY.

It grows principally in Upper JEgypt, from whence the leares re brought, dried, and picked from the stalks, to Alexandria a iEgypt, and thence imported into Europe. They are of an

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SENNA, OR ^EGYPTIAN CASSIA.

oblong figure, sharp-pointed at thejends, about a quarter of inch broad, and not a fall inch in length, of a lively ydlov green colour, a faint, not very disagreeable smell, and a 8 acrid, bitterish, nauseous taste. Some inferior sorts are brpu from other places: these may be easily distinguished by tl being either narrower, longer, and sharper pointed, from Moc or larger, broader, and round pointed, with small promin reins, from Italy ; or large and obtuse, of a fresh green cole without any yellow cast, from Tripoli.

It has been customary to reject the pedicles of the leave senna, as causing gripes and pains in the bowels; but this i mere prejudice, for both leaves and pedicles act in the very si way. Neumann from 480 parts of senna got 143 alcoholic tract, and afterwards 140 watery; and inversely, 245 wate and only 28 alcoholic; «6 that it seems to consist chiefly of i cilagc and extractive matter.

MEDICAL USE.

Senna is a very useful cathartic, operating mildly, and effectually; and, if judiciously dosed and managed, rarely oc sioning the ill consequences which too frequently follow the < hibition of the stronger purges. The only in conveniences cc plained of in this drug are, its being apt to gripe, and its n seous flavour.

These are best obviated by adding to the senna some aronw substance, as ginger, cinnamon, &c, aud by facilitating its o] ration by drinking plentifully of any mild diluent.

Senna may be given in substance to the extent of afoul drachm ; but it is rather too bulky, and it is therefore better divide it into two doses, and to take one half at night, and i other in the morning. It is more conveniently given in the fo of infusion, which is generally made by pouring about six oura of boiling water upon from two to six drachms of senna lea in a tea-pot, and letting it stand for a few minutes, when it on be sweetened, and a little milk added to it, and taken as tea, even mixed with tea to deceive children,' who will take it so; this tea may4>e boiled with sliced apples with sugar with it, wp it will be readily taken. Senna ought never to be ordered decoction, Gren says, because it becomes perfectly inert, fo the total dissipation of the nauseous and volatile principle which its purgative Effects' depend.

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