572 GENTIAN 



action is disputed. Given by the mouth, the bitter taste 

 causes a reflex flow of saliva, and by stimulating the nerves 

 of taste there is, first of all, improved appetite, and then 

 in about thirty to forty minutes an increased reflex secre- 

 tion of gastric juice. But increased gastric secretion of 

 acid and pepsin means more efficient gastric digestion, 

 and more than that, pari passu with the improvement 

 in the stomach, there is increased outpouring of pancreatic 

 juice and of bile, for this depends on the amount of hydro- 

 chloric acid escaping from the pylorus into the duodenum. 

 Thus a bitter in the mouth, by stimulating the nerves of 

 taste, starts a series of reflex secretions which make the 

 whole process of digestion more efficient. Another effect 

 of this group of drugs is an increase in the number of 

 leucocytes in the blood, and in this way absorption of 

 the products of digestion may be helped to some extent. 



MEDICINAL USES. Gentian improves the appetite and 

 general tone. In atonic indigestion it is particularly use- 

 ful amongst young animals, and in such cases is often 

 conjoined with ginger and sodium bicarbonate. In relaxed 

 and irritable states of the bowels, and where intestinal 

 worms are suspected, after administration of a laxative, 

 gentian and hydrochloric acid are often serviceable. For 

 horses suffering from simple nasal catarrh few combinations 

 are more effectual than an ounce of powdered gentian, two 

 drachms nitre, with two ounces Epsom salt, dissolved in 

 a pint of water, linseed tea, or ale, and repeated night and 

 morning. In inflammatory complaints, after the acute 

 stage is passed, such a prescription also proves serviceable. 

 Where the bowels are constipated or irregular, or febrile 

 symptoms are insufficiently subdued, a drachm of aloes 

 is sometimes conjoined with the gentian. Where more 

 general tonic effects are sought, iron sulphate is alternated 

 with gentian and salines. Two to four drachms of gentian, 

 with an ounce of ether or sweet spirit of nitre, given three 

 or four times daily in a bottle of ale, proves an excellent 

 stomachic and stimulating tonic in influenza and other 

 epizootics, helps convalescence from exhausting disorders, 

 and is a useful restorative for horses, jaded, overworked, 

 or suffering from loss of appetite or slight cold. 





