Obs. The preceding formulæ are at present employed in the wholesale trade, by nearly all those houses that are most noted for the superior quality of their ‘CONCENTRATED INFUSIONS,’ The products of the whole are excellent. That from c is very beautiful, and contains all the valuable active matter that it is possible to extract from the ingredients, under the circumstances. It also keeps well. The last one, like all preparations of senna made with hot water, is apt to drop a large deposit on standing, from which the last portion of the infusion is obtained with difficulty. They each furnish a liquid, of which 1 fl. dr. added to 7 fl. dr. of pure water forms 1 fl. oz. of a preparation precisely similar in medicinal qualities to the INFUSUM SENNÆ COMP.—Ph. L.
From the extreme bulkiness of senna, it has become a practice with certain unprincipled druggists to employ only 1⁄3 or 1⁄4 of the proper quantity of that drug, and to add burnt sugar or treacle to bring up the consistence and colour, and alkaline solution of gamboge to impart the necessary purgative quality. Concentrated infusion of senna, as generally met with, is nearly worthless. This arises from either the employment of inferior senna, or the destruction of its active principle, by the lengthened exposure to heat and atmospheric oxygen during its manufacture.
6. (With COFFEE; Infusum sennæ cum caffeâ, L.)—a. (Foy.) Senna, 2 dr.; roasted coffee (ground), 1 dr.; boiling water and hot milk, of each 3 fl. oz.; infuse for 12 hours (4?), and strain. For an adult; to be taken in the morning fasting.
b. (Guersand and Blake.) Senna, 10 to 30 gr. (according to age); hot coffee and hot milk at will; infuse, and when cold strain, and sweeten it with sugar, q. s. As a purge for children.
7. (With LEMON JUICE; Infusum sennæ) limoniatum, L.) From senna, 11⁄2 oz.; fresh lemon peel, 1 oz.; lemon juice, 1 fl. oz.; boiling water, 16 fl. oz.; infuse.
8. (With RHUBARB; Infusum sennæ et rhei, L.—Ellis.) Senna, 6 dr.; manna, 1 oz.; rhubarb and cardamoms, of each (bruised), 2 dr.; boiling water, 1 pint; infuse 1 hour and strain.
9. (With TAMARINDS; Infusum sennæ compositum—Ph. E., Sennæ cum tamarindis, L.—Ph. E.) Senna, 3 dr.; tamarinds, 1 oz.; coriander seeds, 1 dr.; sugar, 1⁄2 oz. (if brown, 1 oz.); boiling water, 8 fl. oz.; infuse for four hours, with agitation, and then strain through calico. Pleasanter than the ordinary infusion of senna.
10. (With TARTAR; Infusum sennæ tartarizatum, L.) From senna, 11⁄2 oz.; coriander seeds, 4 dr.; cream of tartar, 2 dr.; boiling water, 16 fl. oz.
Infusion of Ser′pentary. Syn. Infusum serpentariæ (B. P., Ph. L. & E.), L. Prep. 1. (B. P.) Serpentary, bruised, 1 oz.; boiling distilled water, 40 oz.; infuse 2 hours, and strain.—Dose, 1 to 2 oz.
2. (Ph. L.) Serpentary or Virginian snake-root, 1⁄2 oz.; boiling distilled water, 1 pint; macerate for 4 hours in a closed vessel, and strain. The form of the Ph. E. is similar. As a stimulating expectorant and diaphoretic; in chronic catarrhs, low fevers, agues, &c.