Syrupus Sennae (U. S. P.)—Syrup of Senna.
Related entry: Senna (U. S. P.)—Senna
Preparation.—"Senna (Alexandria), bruised, two hundred and fifty grammes (250 Gm.) [8 ozs. av., 358 grs.]; oil of coriander, five cubic centimeters (5 Cc.) [81♏︎]; alcohol, one hundred and fifty cubic centimeters (150 Cc.) [5 fl℥, 35♏︎]; sugar, seven hundred grammes (700 Gm.) [1 lb. av., 8 ozs., 303 grs.]; water, a sufficient quantity to make one thousand cubic centimeters (1000 Cc.) [33 fl℥, 391♏︎]; To the senna add seven hundred cubic centimeters (700 Cc.) [23 fl℥, 321♏︎] of boiling water, and digest, at a temperature not exceeding 60° C. (140° F.), during 24 hours. Then express the liquid, and pass enough water through the residue to obtain six hundred cubic centimeters (600 Cc.) [20 fl℥, 138♏︎] of liquid. Strain this, and, when it is cold, mix it with the alcohol in which the oil of coriander had previously been dissolved. Set it aside until the precipitate has subsided, then pour off the clear liquid, filter the remainder, and pass enough water through the filter to obtain five hundred and fifty cubic centimeters (550 Cc.) [18 fl℥, 287♏︎]; In the filtrate dissolve the sugar by agitation, without heat, strain, and add enough water, through the strainer, to make the product measure one thousand cubic centimeters (1000 Cc.) [33 fl℥, 391♏︎]. Mix thoroughly"—(U. S. P.).
Action, Medical Uses, and Dosage.—A mild purgative. Dose, 1 to 4 fluid drachms.
Related Syrups.—The Nat. Form. provides for the following forms of syrup of senna:
SYRUPUS SENNAE AROMATICUS (N. F.), Aromatic syrup of senna.—"Senna, one hundred and twenty-five grammes (125 Gm.) [4 ozs. av., 179 grs.]; jalap, fifty grammes (50 Gm.) [1 oz. av., 334 grs.]; rhubarb, seventeen and one-half grammes (17.5 Gm.) [270 grs.]; cinnamon, four grammes (4 Gm.) [62 grs.]; cloves, four grammes (4 Gm.) [62 grs.]; nutmeg, two grammes (2 Gm.) [31 grs.]; oil of lemon, one and one-half cubic centimeters (1.5 Cc.) [24♏︎]; sugar, seven hundred and fifty grammes (750 Gm.) [1 lb. av., 10 ozs., 199 grs.]; diluted alcohol (U. S. P.), a sufficient quantity to make one thousand cubic centimeters (1000 Cc.) [33 fl℥, 391♏︎]; Reduce the drugs to a moderately fine (No. 50) powder, add to it the oil of lemon, and percolate it, in the usual manner, with diluted alcohol. Remove the first five hundred cubic centimeters (500 Cc.) [16 fl℥, 435♏︎] of the percolate, and dissolve in this the sugar, with the aid of a gentle heat, if necessary, but avoiding loss of alcohol by evaporation. Allow the solution to cool, collect a further portion of percolate, and add it to the syrup, so as to make one thousand cubic centimeters (1000 Cc.) [33 fl℥, 391♏︎]. Each fluid drachm represents 7 ½ grains of senna, 3 grains of jalap, and 1 grain of rhubarb, with aromatics"—(Nat. Form.).
SYRUPUS SENNAE COMPOSITUS (N. F.), Compound syrup of senna.—"Fluid extract of senna (U. S. P.), one hundred and thirty-five cubic centimeters (135 Cc.) [4 fl℥, 271♏︎]; fluid extract of rhubarb (U. S. P.), thirty-five cubic centimeters (35 Cc.) [1 fl℥, 88♏︎]; fluid extract of frangula (U. S. P.), thirty-five cubic centimeters (35 Cc.) [1 fl℥, 88♏︎]; oil of gaultheria, four cubic centimeters (4 Cc.) [65♏︎]; alcohol, sixty cubic centimeters (60 Cc.) [2 fl℥, 14♏︎]; syrup (U. S. P.), a sufficient quantity to make one thousand cubic centimeters (1000 Cc.) [33 fl℥, 391♏︎]. Dissolve the oil of gaultheria in the alcohol, and add this to the mixed fluid extracts. Then add enough syrup to make one thousand cubic centimeters (1000 Cc.) [33 fl℥, 391♏︎]; and mix by agitation. Each fluid drachm represents 8 grains of senna, 2 grains of rhubarb, and 2 grains of frangula"—(Nat. Form.).
