€HIRONIA CENTAURIUM. ORD. XV. Rotacee. ° 277 
to be a more useful medicine: experiments out of the body also 
shew it to possess an equal degree of antiseptic power.. To it 
therefore are to be ascribed all those medical effects noticed of the 
preceding article. Many authors have observed, that along with 
the tonic and stomachic qualities of a bitter, Centaury frequently 
proves cathartic ; but it is probable, that this seldom happens, 
unless it be taken in very large doses. The use of this, as wéll as 
of the other bitters, was formerly common in febrile disorders, 
previous to the knowledge of peruvian bark, which now supersedes 
them perhaps too generally; for many cases of fever occur, which 
are found to be aggravated by the Cinchona, yet afterwards readily 
yield to simple bitters. 
The tops* of Centaury plant are directed for use by the Colleges, 
and are most commonly given in infusion, but seh! may also be 
taken in powder, or prepared into an extract. 
© See Pringle, Diss. of the Army, App. p. 66. 
* Lewis asserts, that no bitterness resides in the petals, but from tasting the re- 
eent flowers we discover this quality in a very considerable degree. 
MENYANTHES TRIFOLIATA. WATER TREFOIL, or 
BUCKBEAN. 
SYNONYMA. Trifolium Paludosum, Pharm. Lond. & Edinb. 
Menyanthes Palustre Triphillum, Tourn. Boerh. Ray. Trifolium. 
Fibrinum, Off. Germ. Acopa, Dioscor. Hist. Oxon. 
Class Pentandria. Order Monogynia. L. Gen. Plant, 202. 
Ess. Gen. Ch. Cor. hirsuta. Stigma 2-fidum. Caps. 1-locularis. 
Sp. Ch. M. fol. ternatts. 
No. 24.—vo. 2. AA 
