Infusion of Sen′na. Syn. Senna tea; Infusum sennæ (B. P., Ph. E.), I. sennæ compositum (Ph. L. & D.), L. Prep. 1. (B. P.) Senna, 1 oz.; ginger, sliced, 30 gr.; boiled distilled water, 10 oz.; infuse 1 hour, and strain.—Dose, 1 to 2 oz.
2. (Ph. L.) Senna, 15 dr.; ginger (bruised), 4 scruples; boiling water, 1 pint; macerate for an hour in a covered vessel, and strain.
3. (Ph. E.) Senna, 11⁄2 oz.; ginger, 4 scrup.; boiling water, 1 pint. (See No. 9, below.)
4. (Ph. D.) Senna, 1⁄2 oz.; ginger, 1⁄2 dr.; boiling water, 1⁄2 pint. Purgative.—Dose, 1 to 2 wine-glassfuls. It is usually given in doses of 1 to 11⁄2 fl. oz., combined with 3 to 6 dr. of Epsom salts, or other saline purgative, under the name of ‘BLACK DRAUGHT,’
Obs. This infusion is very apt to spoil in warm weather, to prevent which Mr Squire recommends the addition of 1 gr. of nitrate of potassa to each ounce.
5. (Concentrated; Infusum sennæ concentratum, L.)—a. Senna, 2 lbs. 1 oz.; tepid water, 1 quart, macerate for 12 hours, frequently stirring with a stick, and express the liquor; to the ‘marc,’ add of tepid water 11⁄4 pint, repeat the maceration for 3 hours, and again express the liquor with powerful pressure; mix the infusions, and after 2 hours’ repose decant the clear portion, and evaporate it as rapidly as possible, by steam or a chloride of sodium bath, until it measures 11⁄2 pint; pour this into a strong bottle, and when
nearly cold, add of rectified spirit, 1⁄2 pint; bruised ginger, 31⁄2 oz.; macerate a week with frequent agitation, and after repose for a few days decant the clear portion, and add dilute spirit (1 to 4), q. s. to make the whole measure exactly a quart.
b. Take 8 times the quantity of senna and ginger ordered in the Ph. L., put them into a displacement apparatus, either alone or mixed with clean washed sand, and transmit water, mixed with 1⁄4th part of rectified spirit, through the mass, until the proper quantity of infusion is obtained.
c. (Wholesale.) Alexandrian senna (best), 7 lbs.; unbleached Jamaica ginger (finest, bruised), 3 lbs.; rectified spirit and water, of each 1 gall.; macerate for 14 days, press out the fluid, filter, and set it aside in a well-corked bottle; then take of good East India senna, 25 lbs.; and the ‘pressings’ or ‘marc’ from the tincture, and macerate in the least possible quantity (10 or 12 galls.) of cold distilled water, for 12 or 14 hours, employing frequent agitation with a wooden spatula; next press out the liquid, and again macerate the ‘marc’ in cold distilled water (5 or 6 galls.) for 2 hours; press, mix the two liquors, strain, heat gradually to the boiling point, carefully separate the coagulated albumen and afterwards evaporate as quickly as possible to exactly 9 quarts; put the liquid at once into a vessel capable of holding 5 gallons, bung close to exclude the air, and when nearly cold add the ‘tincture’ obtained from the Alexandrian senna and the ginger; the whole must now be well agitated together, and allowed to stand for a week, when the clear portion must be carefully decanted into bottles (Winchester quarts) for sale.
d. As the last, but employing hot water, and limiting the period of the infusions to 2 hours and 1 hour.