SENNA. 1161

kTl' 16 ^ ar ‘ The drier and dark-coloured East Indian tamarinds are saidbe preserved without sugar.

Description.—T amarinds are imported both raw and preserved. Ta-(j Tl,l d pods are from three to six inches long, more or less curved,^osed of a dry, brittle, brown, external shell ( epicarp ), within whichs , l he acidulous, sweet, reddish-brown pulp ( sarcocarp ) penetrated byin < J n ^- ^res. Still more internal is a thin membranous coat ( endocarp)c c °. s ing the oval brown seeds. Preserved tamarinds ( tamarindi conditi)

. " s ist of the same parts, the shell ( epicarp) excepted. The pulp (pulpat0 **rindi ) is the officinal part.

'Imposition.—T amarind pulp was analyzed, in 1790, by Vauquelin9'4 o* Chim - V- 02), who obtained the following products:— citric acidtartaric acid T55, malic acid 0*45, bitartrate of potash 3 *25,2*5, yum 4*7, vegetable jelly (pectin) 6*25, parenchyma 34*35,27*55.

Hvsiological Effects. —Tamarind pulp allays thirst, is nutritiveref * re frigcrant, and, in full doses, laxative. From this combination off^Serant and laxative properties it is commonly denominated a cooling

tiief SES '—'Tamarinds are adapted for febrile and inflammatory cases: inr efr' 0riner ^ is often taken with the double purpose of operating as aerrant and acting gently on the bowels. An infusion of tamarinds1)|a , s a very pleasant, cooling drink, as does also tamarind whey. Ta-fr e nas are a constituent of several mild purgative preparations. It isa "(l V, nt ^ giren in conjunction with senna (as in the confection of sennakjj *"he infusion of senna with tamarinds, Pli. D.) It is said, though In °t "’ith what truth, that the addition of tamarinds to senna andn ous cathartics diminishes the operation of the latter.p ^Ministration.—T he dose of tamarinds is from 5ij. to 3j. or more.t a ar }ndwhey ( serum lactis tamarindatum) is prepared by boiling Sij. ofa rind pulp with Oij. of milk.

Cassia, Linn .—Several Species yielding Senna.

^ Cassia lanceolata, Dec. and C. obovata, Dec . L,

Cassia, probably C. lanceolata, For ska l, C. acutifolia, Delile , and C. obovata,

E. Cassia elongata, Lemaire-Lisancourt, E.

C. Senna, Linn t D.

Sex. Syst. Decandria, Monogynia.

(Folia, Z.. D. —Leaves, E.)

rirJ/ ST ° KY *' —Reiske ( Diss. inaug. exhib. miscell. aliquot observ. Med. ex"°rk Ti ^ onumtn tis, Lugd. 1746) states, on the authority of an oriental\l a ] ( 'd® Medicina Prop beta: Arabici), that senna was employed by^ this be correct (and we may reasonably entertain someliiw’ SlUce the Arabic word which he translates senna has been by otherUsy SQ S S ’ as Golius and Warner, rendered cumin), this purgative was inm aco j^ centuries before any mention of it is made in the works of phar-Un<l ^ 0 S lc al writers. Among the Arabians I may quote Mesne, Serapion ,Uoi l0 ;; c cnn a , Who notice senna (sene), but they refer to the fruit, andO a ] Ctj le leaves. Mesue , in speaking of the decoction ot senna, quotes’ ail( l from this, as well as from oilier circumstances, it has been