12 MEDICAL BOTANY. 
GENTIANA LUTEA. 
LINNAUS. 
YELLOW GENTIAN. 
Sex. Syst.—Pentandria, Monogynia. 
Gen. Cuar.—Calyz 4—5 parted. Corolla variously divided, twisted to the right in estivation, often with acces- 
sory lobes between the principal ones, without depressed glands upon the petals. c/aments equal at the base. An- 
thers not changing Stigmas terminal on the ovary or style. Placente united with the endocarp, and overspreading 
the valves of the capsules. (Lzndley.) | 
Specir. Caar.—Root cylindrical, wrinkled, ringed, thick, forked, brown externally, yellow within. Stem three 
or four feet high, hollow and stout. Radical leaves ovate oblong, five-nerved, two or three inches broad ; those on the 
stem, sessile, ovate acute; those next the flowers cordate, amplexicant, concave; all of a pale green. Flowers bright’ 
yellow, in many flowered whorls, stalked. Calyz of a papery texture, and semi-transparent, three or four cleft, with 
short lanceolate unequal segments. Corolla with a very short tube, and 5—6 green glands at the base, 5—6 parted, 
with oblong, acute, veiny lobes. Anthers subulate, somewhat united, becoming distinct. Stzgmas revolute. Capsule 
oblong, stalked. Seeds roundish, compressed with a membranous brownish border. (Lindley.) : 
This is the “ Common Gentian,” the root of which furnishes the drug of commerce. It grows in Alpine meadows 
in the middle of Europe, at an elevation of three to five thousand feet. The root is stated by the United States Dis- 
pensatory to come from'Germany. Pereira states, that into England it is imported from Havre and Marseilles. Han- 
sen in Germany is said to be famous as a depot for it. 3 
The root consists of stout branches, becoming at their termination reduced to fibres, the whole concentrated on a 
rough thick head. In the dried state it is brought into the market in pieces more or less branched or simple, an inch 
or more to a few lines in thickness, and several inches in length. It is marked by transverse annular rings, and is 
furrowed from drying. Its fracture is short. Its colour externally is yellowish-brown, and internally yellow. Its 
taste is intensely bitter; its odour not agreeable. Deleterious effects have been attributed to the odoriferous principle 
when the root is drying; this, however, would be more likely to arise from the roots of some of the butter cup species, 
or Ranunculacee, which are said to be occasionally mixed with gentian. 
In 1821, Henry and Caventou examined gentian root, and announced that it contained volatile odorous matter, 
bitter crystalline matter (gentianin), fugaceous odorous principle, yellow colouring matter, green fixed oil, gum, uncrys- 
talhzable Sugar, matter identical with bird lime, a free organic acid, and woody fibre. The volatile principles are 
connected with oil procurable by distillation. The gentianin has been shown by Trommsdorff and Leconte, in 1837, 
aa bier ies ee gentisic acid, and a bitter one gentianite; the last has not been obtained pure. By 
é ime 1s stated to be a compound of oil, wax, and caoutchouc. 
. ie ines se of the existence of sugar, an infusion of gentian is capable of undergoing the alcoholic fermenta- 
ion ; : rom this spirit may be distilled, gentian spirit, which is a favourite beverage with the Swiss mountaineers; the 
taste for it, however, must be acquired in consequence of its bitterness. - : 
Gentian is so named from Gentius, a Kin 
of Illyria, but th i th t is not 
apparent. Asa medicine it has been known = ed ae, a, but the cause of the bestowal of his name on the roo 
Se . e earliest ages. The medical properties are those of a pure bitter; 
it invigorates = stomach, promoting the appetite and removing general debility ; hence it is used in such cases as 
gate ec ; vim not a stimulant. It is employed usefully in combination 
e mode of exhibition is j = ae . : i ; 
this puck wi the lanka: nis in the form of powder, infusion, tincture and extract. Most of the wine bitters have 
Prats LX.—Represents the plant in flower, a radical leaf, and the organs of reproduction. 
