1258

ELEMENTS OF MATERIA MEDICA.

Trommsdorf.

Dulong. ) Quevlnne-^^.

Volatile oil . a trace.

Acrid resin . 4-552

Sweetish.hitter ex-?

tractive.i -w 570

Pectic acid .10-444

Wax ..0-746

Soft resin .5-222

Mucus .5-968

Woody fibre.34-316

Malates, potash, and ? 0

lime .S ***”

Volatile oil, traces.

Acrid extractive.

Yellow extractive.

A substance reddened by sul-phuric acid.

Pectic acid.

Wax.

Resin.

Gum.

Woody fibre.

Malates of potash and lime.Mineral salts and iron.

Polygalic acid-Virgineic acid-Tannic acid-Pectic acid.

Cerin.

Fixed oil. niatt er '

Yellow colouring-®

Gum.

Albumen.

Woody fibre- s ;jj c a,

Salts, ulummuj

magnesia,

Dried Senega root... .97-354

Senega root.

Senega root-

1 n eaU e(J ,

1. Polygalic Acid, in the impure state, was first procured by Gehlen, wn ^ 0 f tl) cSenegin. It is the active principle of the root, and resides in the cortical aft L ' r 'root. When pure it is a white odourless powder, which is at first tasteless, to tb cwards communicates an acrid feeling to the mouth, and a sensefauces. It irritates the nostrils, and excites sneezing. It is volatile, and, n , t ro-composed by heat in a glass tube, evolves no ammonia, and hence contains bn 1 > s 1 "'gen. It is soluble in water and m alcohol, especially when aided by heal; e cipi tate5soluble in ether, acetic acid, and the oils. Its solution forms white,P r -/liasj 1(polygalales ) with diacetate of lead and protonitrate of mercury. Sulphuric a roS e-f e “’characteristic effect on polygalic acid : it renders polygalic acid yellow, then j jeCO in eSand afterwards dissolves it, forming a violet-coloured solution, whietalii*^decolorized in twenty-four hours. The alkaline polygalates are not er ^iy( 37 ; °!Polygalic acid consists of carbon 55-704, hydrogen 7-529, and oxygen & x jiinC 22 fits on. It has considerable resemblance to esculic acid ( Journ. de ^ flr |, aI -ra sS |270). Given to dogs, in doses of six or eight grains, it causes vomitin ®®; n ca« se “respiration, and death in three hours. Two grains thrown into the jugular v

nd, in two hours and a half, death. . .„,v. an 1 *

vomiting

imtiuj-, auu, in twu uuuis uuu a uan, uccuu. . t

2. Virgineic Acid. —A volatile fatty acid, analogous to valerianic, P nu ,j sa <

ui=-B reC "

butyric acids. It is an oily liquid, of a reddish colour, a strong, penetrating) bibable odour, and an acrid taste. It is soluble in alcohol, ether, and caustic P°scarcely so in water.

Physiological Effects. —Senega possesses acrid and stimtJ 3 ^? jpperties. In small doses it is diaphoretic, diuretic, and expecto* .^//.large doses, emetic and purgative. Sundelin ( Handb. d. Spec. U ct tv yoii. 176, 3 te Aufl.) took a scruple of powdered senega root e ' e ^ n guchours, for six hours: it caused irritation of the back part of theand throat, and gave rise to an increased flow of saliva. Thesewere soon followed by considerable burning in the stomach, n aU (n qpii)gvomiting. The skin became warmer and moister; there ' vaS oipain of the bowels, followed by watery evacuations; the seerurine was increased, and a feeling of heat was experienced in

Vtli l° sS

passages. For some days after there was gastric uneasiness, mu a! )dappetite. In larger doses it caused burning pain in the stomabowels, violent vomiting, purging, anxiety, and giddiness. te the

It appears to excite moderately the vascular system, to pro • j jyen 1 'secretions (at least those of the kidneys, skin, uterus, and bronchi j ia sbrane), and to exert a specific influence over the nervous system-been principally celebrated for its expectorant effects. ,blah cC

In its operation on the nervous system it has considerable rose