Confection of Sen′na

Syn. Len′itive elec′tuary , Elec′tuary of Senna ; Confec′tio sen′næ (Ph. L. & D.), Electua′′rium sen′næ (Ph. E.), L. Prep. 1. Senna, 8 oz.; corianders, 4 oz.; rub them together, and by a sieve separate 10 oz. of the mixed powder; also boil figs, 1 lb., and fresh liquorice, bruised, 3 oz., in water, 3 pints, until reduced to one half; pre , strain, and evaporate the strained liquor in a water bath to 24 fl. oz.; then add sugar, 2 1 ⁄ 2 lbs.; di olve, and further add, prepared tamarinds, ca ia, and prunes, of each 1 ⁄ 2 lb.; remove from the heat, and when the whole has considerably cooled, add the sifted powder, by degrees, and stir until the whole is thoroughly incorporated. 2. (Ph. E.) Senna, 8 oz.; corianders, 4 oz.; liquorice root, 3 oz.; figs and pulp of prunes, of each, 1 lb.; white sugar, 2 1 ⁄ 2 lbs.; water, 3 1 ⁄ 4 pints. 3. (Ph. D.) Senna leaves, in fine powder, 2 oz.; corianders (in fine powder), 1 oz.; oil of caraway, 1 ⁄ 2 dr.; mix, and add them to pulp of prunes, 5 oz.; pulp of tamarinds, 2 oz.; brown sugar, 8 oz.; water 2 fl. oz.; previously brought to a smooth paste by the heat of a water bath. 4. (Ph. B.) Boil figs, 12 oz., and prunes, 6 oz., gently in distilled water, 24 oz., in a covered ve el for hours, then, having added more distilled water to make up the quantity to 24 fluid ounces, add tamarinds, 9 oz., and ca ia pulp, 9 oz.; macerate for two hours, and pre the pulp through a hair sieve, rejecting the seeds, . Di olve refined sugar, 30 oz., and extract of liquorice, 3 ⁄ 4 oz., in the mixture with a gentle heat; and while it is still warm, add to it gradually senna in fine powder, 7 oz., and coriander in fine powder, 3 oz., and stir diligently until all the ingredients are thoroughly combined. The resulting confection should weigh 75 oz. Uses, . Confection of senna is a gentle and pleasant purgative, and well adapted for persons suffering from piles, and as a laxative during pregnancy. The dose is 1 dr. to 1 ⁄ 2 oz., taken at bedtime or early in the morning. Obs. There is no one pharma copœial preparation which it is more difficult to obtain of good quality than confection of senna. The absolute cost of an article prepared according to the directions of the Colleges is greater than the price at which many wholesale houses are vending the drug. Dr Paris very truly remarks, that “the directions of the Pharma copœia are very rarely followed.” Considerable quantities are manufactured, into which unsound and spoilt apples enter as a principal ingredient; whilst the substitution of jalap for the whole, or a portion of the senna, is a very common practice. We have seen the following forms employed in the trade. 5. Powdered senna’ pulp of tamarinds, ca ia, and prunes, of each 1 1 ⁄ 2 lb.; powdered corianders, 3 ⁄ 4 lb.; Spanish juice, 1 ⁄ 2 lb.; simple syrup, 12 lbs. 6. As the above, but omitting the ca ia pulp, and adding 2 lbs. more tamarind pulp. Both these articles are labelled “P. L.” and sent out as genuine, and that when no competition as to price exists. The cheaper article is made as follows:— 7. Common prunes and tamarinds, of each 16 lbs.; treacle, 3 ⁄ 4 cwt.; species (a compound of senna dust and small senna, mixed with 3 lbs. of coriander seeds, and strengthened with jalap; all ground to a fine powder), 18 1 ⁄ 4 lbs. To this is frequently added, of rotten or inferior apples, 1 ⁄ 4 cwt., which are pulped with the prunes and tamarinds. This article is commonly labelled “ Conf. Sennæ Ver. ” by its manufacturer.