3. (Ph. D.) Senna leaves, in fine powder, 2 oz.; corianders (in fine powder), 1 oz.; oil of caraway, 1⁄2 dr.; mix, and add them to pulp of prunes, 5 oz.; pulp of tamarinds, 2 oz.; brown sugar, 8 oz.; water 2 fl. oz.; previously brought to a smooth paste by the heat of a water bath.
4. (Ph. B.) Boil figs, 12 oz., and prunes, 6 oz., gently in distilled water, 24 oz., in a covered vessel for hours, then, having added more distilled water to make up the quantity to 24 fluid ounces, add tamarinds, 9 oz., and cassia pulp, 9 oz.; macerate for two hours, and press the pulp through a hair sieve, rejecting the seeds, &c. Dissolve refined sugar, 30 oz., and extract of liquorice, 3⁄4 oz., in the mixture with a gentle heat; and while it is still warm, add to it gradually senna in fine powder, 7 oz., and coriander in fine powder, 3 oz., and stir diligently until all the ingredients are thoroughly combined. The resulting confection should weigh 75 oz.
Uses, &c. Confection of senna is a gentle and pleasant purgative, and well adapted for persons suffering from piles, and as a laxative during pregnancy. The dose is 1 dr. to 1⁄2 oz., taken at bedtime or early in the morning.
Obs. There is no one pharmacopœial preparation which it is more difficult to obtain of good quality than confection of senna. The absolute cost of an article prepared according to the directions of the Colleges is greater than the price at which many wholesale houses are vending the drug. Dr Paris very truly remarks, that “the directions of the Pharmacopœia are very rarely followed.” Considerable quantities are manufactured, into which unsound and spoilt apples enter as a principal ingredient; whilst the substitution of jalap for the whole, or a portion of the senna, is a very common practice. We have seen the following forms employed in the trade.
5. Powdered senna’ pulp of tamarinds, cassia, and prunes, of each 11⁄2 lb.; powdered corianders, 3⁄4 lb.; Spanish juice, 1⁄2 lb.; simple syrup, 12 lbs.
6. As the above, but omitting the cassia pulp, and adding 2 lbs. more tamarind pulp. Both these articles are labelled “P. L.” and sent out as genuine, and that when no competition as to price exists. The cheaper article is made as follows:—
7. Common prunes and tamarinds, of each 16 lbs.; treacle, 3⁄4 cwt.; species (a compound of senna dust and small senna, mixed with 3 lbs. of coriander seeds, and strengthened with jalap; all ground to a fine powder), 181⁄4 lbs. To this is frequently added, of rotten or inferior apples, 1⁄4 cwt., which are pulped with the prunes and tamarinds. This article is commonly labelled “Conf. Sennæ Ver.” by its manufacturer.
Confection of Sponge. Syn. Elec′tuary of burnt sponge; Confec′tio spongii, C. s. us′tæ, L. Prep. 1. Burnt sponge, 3 parts; confection of orange peel and hips, of each 1 part; simple syrup, q. s.
2. (St. B. Hosp.) Burnt sponge, made into a confection with syrup of orange peel. The
first form produces the most agreeable confection.—Dose, of either, 1⁄2 dr. to 2 dr., twice or thrice daily; in scrofula, &c.