The fruit is a cylindrical pod scarcely an inch in diameter, but a foot
or more in length; the exterior is a hard brown bark; the interior is
divided into numerous transverse cells, each of which contains an oval
seed imbedded in a soft black pulp. QUALITIES. _Odour_, faint and rather
sickly. _Taste_, sweet and mucilaginous. SOLUBILITY. Nearly the whole of
the pulp is dissolved by water, partially by alcohol and sulphuric
ether. CHEMICAL COMPOSITION. Sugar, gelatine, glutine, gum, and a small
portion of resin, extractive, and some colouring matter. USES. It is
gently laxative, and is adapted for children and very delicate women,
but it should be always given in combination with manna or some other
laxative, or it is apt to induce nausea, flatulence and griping.
OFFICINAL PREPARATIONS. _Confectio Cassiæ._ L.E.D. _Confectio Sennæ_
(=B.O.=) L.E.D.[453] There are two kinds of this drug in the market;
that from the West Indies, the pods of which are generally large, rough,
thick rinded, and contain a nauseous pulp; and that from the East
Indies, which is to be preferred, and which is distinguished by smaller
and smoother pods, and by their containing a much blacker pulp. The pulp
ought not to have a harsh flavour, which arises from the fruit having
been gathered before it was ripe, nor ought it to be sour, which it is
very apt to become by keeping. The heaviest pods, and those in which the
seeds do not rattle, are to be preferred.
CASTOREUM. L.E.D. _Castor._ (Castor Fiber. (_Rossicus._) _Concretum sui
generis._)
This substance is secreted by the beaver, in bags near the rectum.[454]
QUALITIES. _Odour_, strong and aromatic. _Taste_, bitter, sub-acrid, and
nauseous. _Colour_, reddish brown. CHEMICAL COMPOSITION. Volatile oil,
resin, mucilage, extractive, iron, and small portions of the carbonate
of potass, lime and ammonia. It contains also, according to the analysis
of Laugier, a small quantity of Benzoic acid. The Canadian variety is
also stated by Laugier to contain benzoic acid both free and combined.
SOLUBILITY. Its active matter is dissolved by alcohol, proof spirit, and
partially by water; the tincture made with alcohol is the least
nauseous, and the most efficacious; the spirit of ammonia is also an
excellent menstruum, and in many cases improves its virtues. FORMS OF
EXHIBITION. It may be given in substance, as a bolus, or in the form of
tincture, but its exhibition in the form of extract or decoction is
chemically incorrect. DOSE, grs. x to ℈j, and, in clysters, to ʒj.
MEDICINAL USES. It is antispasmodic, and seems to act more particularly
on the uterine system. It certainly proves beneficial as an adjunct to
antihysteric combinations; it was highly esteemed by Van Swieten, De
Haen, and many other German practitioners. Baglivi states that it
counteracts the narcotic powers of opium, but this is not the case.
OFFICINAL PREPARATIONS. _Tinct. Castorei_.[455] L.E.D. ADULTER: It is
sometimes counterfeited by a mixture of dried blood, gum ammoniacum, and
a little real castor, stuffed into the scrotum of a goat; the fraud is
detected by comparing the smell and taste with those of real castor; and
by the deficiency of the subaceous follicles, which are always attached
to genuine specimens. There are two kinds in the market, the Russian and
Canadian, the former however, which is the best, has become extremely
scarce; it may be distinguished from the latter, by being larger,
rounder, heavier, and less corrugated on the outside.