(Fraxinus Ornus. _Succus Concretus._)
_Manna._
QUALITIES. _Form_, flakes of a granular texture; _Colour_, whitish, or
pale yellow; _Odour_, slight but peculiar; _Taste_, nauseous sweet, with
some degree of bitterness. CHEMICAL COMPOSITION. This concrete vegetable
juice, besides sugar, appears to contain mucilage and extractive, to
which its taste and other peculiar properties are owing. SOLUBILITY. It
is entirely soluble in water and alcohol. MED. USES. It is now merely
regarded as a laxative for children, or for weak persons. It generally
requires some laxative adjunct, as castor oil, with which it may be
combined by the medium of mucilage. DOSE, for children, from ʒj to ʒiij,
in warm milk. OFFICINAL PREP. _Confectio Cassiæ._ L.E.D. _Enema
Cathart._ D. _Enema Fœtid._ D. _Syrup. Sennæ._ D. ADULTERATIONS. There
are several varieties in the market, the best of which is flake manna,
_manna canulata_, in a stalactitic form. An article, entirely
factitious, consisting of honey or sugar, mixed with scammony, is
sometimes sold for genuine manna, but its colour, weight, transparency,
and taste, must instantly lead to its detection.