Origin. - The dried leaflets of Cassia acutifolia Delile (Alexandria senna) or of Cassia augustifolia Vahl (India senna), small shrubs found in Upper Egypt and southward to Nubia, Sennaar, and Kordofan, and farther westward in tropical Africa (Cassia acutifolia), and in Southwestern Arabia, along the Somali coast of Africa, and eastward in Northern India (Cassia angustifolid).

Description and Properties. - Alexandria senna consists of leaflets about I inch (25 Mm.) long and 3/8 inch (10 Mm.) broad, lanceolate or lance-oval, subcori-aceous, brittle, rather pointed, unequally oblique at the base, entire, grayish-greeq, somewhat pubescent; of a peculiar odor, and a nauseous, bitter taste.

India senna consists of leaflets I to 2 inches (2.5-5 Cm.) long and 3/8 to 5/8 inch (10-15 Mm.) broad, lanceolate, acute, unequally oblique at the base, entire, thin, yellowish-green or dull-green, nearly smooth; odor peculiar, somewhat tea-like; taste mucilaginous, bitter, and nauseous.

Senna contains a sulphuretted glycosid, cathartic acid, to which the purgative properties of the drug are due. Senna also contains chrysophan, besides lennacrol and sennapicnn (two bitter principles), catharto-mannite, mucilage, etc.

Dose. - 10 grains to 3 drams (0.6-12.0 Gm.) [60 grains (4 Gm.), U. S. P.].

Official Preparations

Confectio Sennae - Confectionis Sennae - Confection of Senna. - 10 per cent. with cassia fistula, tamarind, prune, fig, sugar, and oil of coriander. Dose, 1-3 drams (4.0-12.0 Gm.) [60 grains (4 Gm.), U. S. P.].

Fluidextractum Sennae - Fluidextracti Senna - Fluidextract of Senna. Dose, 10 minims to 3 rhudrams (0.6-11.09 Cc.) [30 minims (2 Cc), U. S. P.].

Infusum Sennae Compositum - Infusi Sennae Compositi - Compound Infusion of Senna. - 6 per cent., with manna and magnesium sulphate, each 12 per cent., and fennel 2 per cent. Dose, 1-2 1/2 fluidounces (30.0-75.0 Cc.) [4 ounces (120 Cc), U. S. P.].

Pulvis Glycyrrhizae Compositus - Pulveris Glycyrrhizae Compositi - Compound Powder of Glycyrrhiza. - Formula: Senna, 180; glycyrrhiza, 236; oil of fennel, 4; washed sulphur, 80; sugar, 500.

Dose. - 1/2-2 drams (2.0-8.0 Gm.) [60 grains (4 Gm.), U. S. P.].

Syrupus Sennae - Syrupi Sennae - Syrup of Senna (25 per cent.). - Dose, 1/4-1 fluidounce (8.0-30.0 Cc.) [1 fluidram (4 Cc), U. S. P.].

Syrupus Sarsaparillae Compositus contains 15 per cent. of the fluidextract of senna.

Dose. - 4 drams (16 Cc), U. S. P.

Physiological Action and Therapeutics. - Senna is an active purgative, acting upon nearly the entire intestinal tract, increasing both peristalsis and intestinal secretion, although having but little effect upon the biliary secretion. It is apt to occasion much flatulence and griping unless it is associated with aromatics. Full doses open the bowels in from four to eight hours, producing one or more copious liquid, yellow stools, but never occasioning hyper-catharsis, and the purgation is not followed by constipation.

An infusion of senna, if injected into the veins, excites both vomiting and purging.

Some persons are so susceptible to the influence of senna as to be purged even by its odor.

The drug, or some constituent of it, is eliminated by the urine, to which it imparts a red color, and by the milk, rendering it purgative.

The various preparations of senna are very efficient purgatives in cases of simple constipation or in cases of fecal accumulation in the colon.

Infusion of senna is an admirable purgative with which to succeed the administration of blue pill. In cases of biliousness there is probably no better treatment than calomel or blue pill at night and infusion of senna in the morning.

Habitual constipation and the constipation of pregnancy are safely and agreeably treated by compound liquorice powder.

Administration. - Senna is seldom given alone, but is generally associated with some corrective to prevent griping.

The infusion, compound liquorice powder, syrup, and confection of senna are employed.

The compound liquorice powder and the confection being the mildest and pleasantest, the latter preparation, when coated with chocolate, is readily taken by children, and in this form is the well-known laxative "Tamar Indien." Many of the household teas and proprietary laxatives contain senna. The laity should be cautioned against their use.