274 , ORD. XV. Rotacee. GENTIANA LUTEA. 
the Gentian with which our shops are supplied, is imported from 
the mountainous parts of Switzerland, Germany, &c. * 
The root, which is the only medicinal part of the plant, has little 
or no smell, but.to the taste it manifests great bitterness, a quality 
which is extracted by aqueous, spirituous, and vinous menstrua, 
though not in so great a degree by water as by spirit; and the 
extract of this root, prepared from the watery infusion, is less bitter 
than that made from the spirituous tincture.* 
Gentiant is the principal bitter now employed by physicians ;f 
and as the intense bitters are generally admitted to be not only 
tonic and stomachic, but also anthelmintic, antiseptic, emmena- 
gogue, antiarthritic, and febrifuge, this root has a better claim to 
the possession of these powers than most of this kind. 
Many dyspeptic complaints, though arising from debility of the 
stomach, are more effectually relieved by bitters than by Peruvian 
bark; and hence may be inferred their superior tonic power on the 
organs of digestion. And the Gentian, joined with equal parts of 
tormentil or galls, we are told by Dr. Cullen” constantly succeeded 
in curing intermittents, if given in sufficient quantity. 
As a simple bitter the Gentian is rendered more grateful to the 
stomach by the addition of an aromatic, and for this purpose orange 
peel is commonly employed. The officinal preparations of this root 
are, the infusum gentianz compositum, & tinctura gentianz com- 
* In pratis montanis & subalpinis, post hore adscensum ex planitie ubique, ut 
super Neuenstatt versus Nodz, sub Panex, in pratis Joroguxe. Latos tractus oc- 
fupat, que a pecore non tangatur. Haller, t. c. 
* Lewis, M. M. p. 320. 
+ The name Gentian is supposed to be taken form Gentius, King of Illyria, who 
Brst discovered its uses 
t The roots of other species of Gentian are reported to be equally bitter, and 
are preferred by some to that of the lutea viz. G, purpurea, asclepiadea, Pneumo- 
wanthe, campestris, Amarelia, 
* M. Hw, D. tt. p- vas 
eae 
