Senna

Cassia obovata, Collodion ; (C. Senna, Linn.); also C. acutifolia, Delile; C. Lanceolata, Lam.

Senna, the Arabian name ; Senna Alexandria.

Natural order, Leguminosae.

Preparation, Triturations of the leaves. (The active principle, Cathartic acid and its salts, is not soluble in Alcohol.)

Authorities, 1, Wigan, Lancet, 1846, 1, 28, three children poisoned by Senna tea; 2, Bley and Diesel, Pharm. Journ., 1850 (Pharm. Cent. Bl., 1849, No. 8); 3, Smith, Pharm. Journ., 1868-69, p. 315, effects of repeated doses; 4, Bourgoin and Bouchut, Journ. Pharm. Chim., XII, 305, fourth series, effects of 5 to 15 grain doses of the “ mucilaginous matter in Senna ” in fifteen children ; 5, same, a child of twelve took the mucilaginous matter, followed on third day by 10 grams of fluid extract; 6, same, 15 grains of fluid extract in a child of fourteen ; 7, same, 6 to 30 gram doses of fluid extract in thirty-one children; 8, Berridge, Am. J. of Horn., M. M., 8, 126, Mr.-inhaled infusion of Senna; 9, same, Dr. B. inhaled same.

Nose

Repeated sneezing, which caused heat (especially of hands), exhaustion, and panting breathing

Face

Livid lips

Stomach

Nausea, lasting some time

Three had nausea

The so-called Cathartin, in doses of 2£ to 3 drachms, caused only nausea and disagreeable eructations

The brown resin, in doses of from 15 to 80 grains, merely caused nausea, and in larger doses, vomiting

Some vomited

Irritation of the whole mucous membrane of the alimentary canal, extending even to the nostrils

Abdomen

Two had griping pains

Fourteen had *colic

Stool

In two cases there was but one motion ; in seven cases, two ; in two, three ; in six, four; in five, five ; in three, six ; in three, seven. These evacuations were yellowish, more or less abundant, and after the purgation there was neither uneasiness nor fever

Upon seven it had a slight purgative effect, characterized in three by a single muddy evacuation, and by two to four yellowish liquid evacuations in others

Two liquid painless evacuations

Two *liquid evacuations, with griping pains

Urinary Organs p. 600

In doses of 60 grains it appeared to act as a diuretic, and could be detected for a short time in the urine, in consequence of the color which it assumes on the addition of potash.2.

Respiratory Organs p. 600

Most aggravated dyspnoea

Panting breathing

Generalities p. 600

Universal swelling

Exhaustion

Fever p. 600

Heat (especially of the hands)