894

SENN

it into little balls, or granules, wkich are then dried. It is insolublein hot water.

Sempervivum Tectorum. House Leek. A common native plant, thejuice of which is acrid, and rubefacient. It is used as a cosmetic,mixed with cream, for freckles, &c.

Senecio Jacobosa. P. Ragwort. A common native plant, which issaid to be vermifuge.

Senecio Vulgaris. P. Groundsel. A common native plant, which ispurgative, emetic, and vermifuge. It is also used in form of cata-plasm, as a discutient.

Senega: Radix. L. E. D. P. Rattlesnake Root. Polygala senega. Itis without smell, and of a sweetish, acrid, and pungent taste, pro-ducing a tingling sensation in the fauces, and a flow of saliva.Genuine senega root has a wrinkled, greyish, or pale brown bark, withtransverse cracks. The bark is the active part. Internally it iswhite, but this portion is useless.Chemically it contains a resinous substance, on which its activity de-pends, which is imparted readily to alcohol, and partially to hotwater.Medicinally it is stimulant, tonic, diaphoretic, diuretic, expectorant,purgative, and feebly emetic. It has been prescribed in typhoid in-flammations of the lungs, and in chronic catarrh, but is apt to excitevomiting and diarrhoea. The dose is gr. x to 5SS of the powder, withMadeira wine to cover the taste. In palsy and lethargy it has beenfound useful along with carbonate of ammonia. (Brandreth.) SeeDecoct. Senegje.Externally in form of gargle, as a stimulant for croup, &c.; but it is

not so efficient as pyrethrum.Enters into Decoct. Senega?. L. E.

Senegine. A new principle discovered in various species of polygala byM. Gehlen.

Senn.* Folia. L. E. D. P. Senna Leaves. Cassia senna. These leavessmell like green tea, and have a nauseous taste, somewhat bitter, andsubastringent.Genuine senna ought to have a pretty strong and fresh smell, somewhatlike that of green tea, but more heavy and sickly. The colour oughtto be a fresh yellowish-green. The leaves smooth, soft, not spotted,nerved on the under side, little broken, or mixed with stalks; andthey ought to be free from moisture, which is apt to render themmouldy.Adulterated with the leaves of other plants, such as those of Cynanckumoleafolium, or argel, box, &c.; which are mixed with the genuinebefore importation.