Considerations on the Bitterness of Vegetables. 273 



Art. Yl\\.— Considerations on the Bitterness of Vegetables, etc., 

 by J. B. A. GuiLLEMiN, Doctor in Medicine, 4to. Paris, 1832. 



Translated for this Journal, by J. H. Griscom, M. D. 



Mr. Guillemin is known among Botanists by many interesting 

 works, and especially by the part which he has had in the publica- 

 tion of the Classical Dictionary of Natural History, and of the Flora 

 of Senegambia. The dissertation which we here notice, shows that 

 he has carefully studied the connections between botany and medi- 

 cine, and tends to confirm the usefulness of that kind of study, 

 which, as it is intermediate to the two sciences, more rarely makes a 

 part of the direct studies of those who devote themselves to both. 

 The work of Mr. Guillemin is founded entirely upon the general law 

 of analogy of the properties of plants which belong to the same fami- 

 ly, and becomes, consequently, a new confirmation of the principles 

 exposed in the Essay upon the medical properties of plants, com- 

 pared to their natural classification. (1 Vol. 8vo. Paris, 1816.) 

 The author divides the families endowed w^ith bitterness, into several 

 groups, viz: 1, the families purely bitter; 2nd, the acrid and 

 bitter; 3rd, the astringent bitter; 4th, aromatic bitters; 5th, the 

 cathartic bitters. He reviews the plants which enter into these dif- 

 ferent divisions, and analyses their modes of action, in as clear and 

 precise a manner as our knowledge of them will permit. He enters 

 particularly, into some interesting details upon the Gentians, which 

 contain bitterness in a high degree of intensity and purity, and his 

 chapter upon this subject, is the more interesting, as it is extracted 

 from a large work on this family, which the author has for a long 

 time intended, and we hope still intends, to make a botanical mono- 

 graph. We might direct our attention, with great interest, to many of 

 the articles of this dissertation ; but we think, seeing the circumstan- 

 ces in which Europe is placed, it will be more suitable to give almost 

 textually that which relates to the properties of aloes, and especially 

 to its employment in the treatment of the Asiatic cholera. In in- 

 serting this article here, we shall give an idea of the wise and re- 

 flecting manner in which the author considers the subject, we shall 

 show how general considerations maybe reduced to particular appli- 

 cations, and perhaps we may suggest to some physicians of infected 

 districts, or which may be so, the idea of researches benefical to 

 humanity. 



