Saná, Hindí-saná-ká-pát (Hind.), Nát-kí-saná (Duk.), Són-pát, Shín-pát (Beng.), Sanna-mákhí (Punj.), Berg-i-sanna (Kash.), Nilá-virai, Níla-vakái (Tam.), Néla-tangédu (Tel.), Níla-váká (Mal.), Nelá-varíke (Can.), Sana-kola, Nil-ávari (Cing.), Puve-kain-yoe (Burm.), Sunna Maki (Malay).
336. The imported Senna met with in the bazaars is usually of very inferior quality, consisting of broken pieces of old leaves, pieces of stem, and other rubbish. That grown in India, especially in Tinnevelly, is preferable to that imported from Arabia, which is called Sana-Makhí, or Mecca Senna. The leaves should be unbroken, clean, brittle, pale green, or yellow, with a heavyish smell. It is a good safe aperient, and may be given as follows: Take of Senna leaves, one ounce; of bruised Ginger and Cloves, each half a drachm; Boiling Water, ten ounces. Let it stand for one hour, and strain. This is a good aperient in all cases of Constipation, in doses of one and a half to two ounces; half this quantity, or less, is required for children, according to age. A simple infusion of Senna leaves, of the above strength, if taken hot, with the addition of milk and sugar, can hardly be distinguished from ordinary tea. In this manner it is easily administered to children, and will be borne by the most delicate stomachs. As a general rule. Castor Oil is preferable as an aperient for infants.
337.
Sesamum, Jinjili, or Til Oil.
The expressed oil of the seeds of Sesamum Indicum, Linn.
Til-ká-tél, Míthá-tel (Hind., Punj.), Mittá-tél (Duk.), Nal-enney (Tam.), Manchi-núne (Tel.), Nall-enná (Mal.), Valle-yanne (Can.), Chokhóta-téla (Mah.), Mítho-tél (Guz.), Talla-tel (Cing.), Tíl (Kash.), Nahu-sí (Burm.), Miniak-bijan (Malay).
338. Til or Jingili Oil, met with in all bazaars throughout India, is quite equal, when properly prepared, to Olive Oil for medicinal and pharmaceutical purposes. It is advisable always to keep a small stock of it on hand for cases of emergency, such as burns, &c., when Lime Liniment (229) may be required. As a dressing for Ulcers, Suppurating Wounds, "oil dressing" has been successfully applied in Bombay; it consists of the continuous application of a pledget of common country cloth or rag saturated with pure Sesamum Oil to the affected part. It is thought to be superior to any other simple dressing particularly during the hot season. In Leprosy Dr. Hilson has conclusively shown that great and manifest benefit, though it may be temporary, results from diligent frictions of the body with this oil (see Sect. 161).
338a. The leaves, which abound in mucilage, have attained some repute in bowel affections, and Mr. B. Evers (Indian Med. Gazette, March 1875) made trials with them in sixteen cases of Dysentery. Recovery followed in each case, but they were all of a mild type, and though the remedy acted as a demulcent, it did not appear to exercise any specific influence on the disease; besides, as opium had to be conjoined with it to control the tenesmus, the benefit may have been due as much, if not more, to the opiate as to the mucilage. It is evidently a remedy of very secondary value, and inferior to Ispaghúl Seeds (304). The seeds have powerfully emmenagogue properties assigned to them, and it is believed by the natives and Anglo-Indians that, if taken in large quantities, they are capable of producing abortion. In Amenorrhœa the employment of a warm hip bath containing a handful of the bruised seeds has been reported on good authority to be an efficient mode of treatment. It seems worthy of further trial. In three cases of Dysmenorrhœa (Painful Menstruation) Mr. B. Evers (op. cit.) administered with benefit the powdered seeds in ten-grain doses three or four times daily. At the same time he employed the hip bath containing the bruised seeds as mentioned above.
339.