NAT. ORDER. — GENTIANE^. 61 



enables the stomach to bear and digest solid food, and thus cures 

 d)'.spepsia. They are much used in the Southern States in hectic 

 and nervous fevers, pneumonia, &c., acting as a sudorific tonic. They 

 may be used like the common gentian, in general debility, marasm, 

 hy.steria, and even gout. Also united to astringents for intermittents 

 and other fevers. The dose in substance is from ten to forty grains, 

 in tincture one-fourth of an ounce to an ounce, in extract two to 

 eight grains. In large doses gentian proves cathartic, like Podophyl- 

 lum peltatam, Frasera, &c. They enter into all digestive pills and 

 preparations. A kind of spirit is distilled in Switzerland from gen- 

 tians, after being macerated in water. 



