120 NAT. ORDER. GENTIANACE^. 



found growing wild in great abundance from Carolina to Alabama, 

 and West Kentucky, in glades and open plains, it is also cultivated 

 in hot houses and gardens, but chiefly as an ornament. 



The root alone is the part medicinaly employed, and so exactly 

 resembles that of the yellow or common oflScinal Gentian, that it is 

 almost impossible to distinguish them apart; and in some countries 

 where the latter is scarce, the former is employed in its stead. 



Medical Properties and Uses. The medical character of this 

 plant is to be regarded precisely the same as that of the gentiana 

 lutea, which is now so universally used as a bitter. This root ranks 

 high as a tonic, and also possesses sudorific, anticeptic, corroborant, 

 and cathartic properties. It appears to have been in constant use 

 from the earliest times ; but its virtues (as is frequently the case 

 with other remedies) were held in too high estimation by the 

 ancients. As a tonic it may be administered with the best effects 

 in dj^spepsia, particularly where there is weakness of the stomach : 

 also in debilitated states of the constitution, brought on from various 

 causes, or in diseases which exhaust the power of the S3"stem, as 

 diarrhoea, dropsy, fevers, hysteria, scrofula, worms, &c. Many dys- 

 peptic complaints, though arising from debility of the stomach, are 

 more effectually relieved by bitters than by peruvian bark : and 

 hence may be infered their superior tonic powers on the organs of 

 dio;estion. 



Gentian Bitters. Take of Gentiana purpurea, Purple Gentian 

 one ounce ; Panax quinquefolium. Ginseng two ounces ; Chelone 

 glabra, Balmony quarter of an ounce ; Aurantii cortex, Orange peel 

 one and a half ounces; put this into one gallon {^ure wine, let it 

 stand for two or three days, when it is ready for use. Dose, half 

 d, wine glass full, taken usually before eating. This I nave found to 

 be one of the most valuable bitters in use, as a strengthening tonic, 

 nothing can claim its superior. Those who are reduced from gen- 

 eral debility, or other causes, would do well to try this remedy. 

 The dose of the powder of the root is from five to ten grains, 



