Extractum Sennae Fluidum (U. S. P.)—Fluid Extract of Senna.
Related entry: Senna (U. S. P.)—Senna - Deodorized Fluid Extract of Senna. - Fluid Extract of Senna and Jalap.
Preparation.—"Senna, in No. 30 powder, one thousand grammes (1000 Gm.) [2 lbs. av., 3 ozs., 120 grs.]; diluted alcohol, a sufficient quantity to make one thousand cubic centimeters (1000 Cc.) [33 fl℥, 391♏︎]. Moisten the powder with four hundred cubic centimeters (400 Cc.) [13 fl℥, 252♏︎] of diluted alcohol, and pack it firmly in a cylindrical percolator; then add enough diluted alcohol to saturate the powder and leave a stratum above it. When the liquid begins to drop from the percolator, close the lower orifice, and, having closely covered the percolator, macerate for 48 hours. Then allow the percolation to proceed, gradually adding diluted alcohol until the senna is exhausted. Reserve the first eight hundred cubic centimeters (800 Cc.) [27 fl℥, 25♏︎] of the percolate, and evaporate the remainder to a soft extract, dissolve this in the reserved portion, and add enough diluted alcohol to make the fluid extract measure one thousand cubic centimeters (1000 Cc.) [33 fl℥, 391♏︎]"—(U. S. P.).
Description, Medical Uses, and Dosage.—(See Senna). In this process, the aromatics and Hoffman's anodyne of former processes are omitted. The earlier preparations were also too thick and gave heavy deposits. Glycerin, added to later processes, did not improve the product, so it is now omitted. When it is desirable to aromatize this fluid extract, add 16 minims of oil of cloves dissolved in ½ fluid ounce of tincture of ginger to the quantity of the formula. If the senna is passed through a sieve 50 or 60 meshes to the inch, and a funnel-shaped percolator be used, the first pint of tincture will contain most of the valuable portion of the senna, and by observing precautions in its evaporation, it is not injured in the process. As the aromatics are omitted, the fluid extract can be employed to make other fluid extracts, tinctures, or syrups, into which senna enters. This forms a neat preparation of senna of a deep-brown color and the characteristic taste and odor of the leaves. An inert precipitate often separates in large amount, and deposits upon the sides and bottom of the container. Dose, 1 to 4 fluid drachms. The purgative dose for an adult is ½ fluid ounce.
