60. 



The roots of the 

 herb bennet. 

 (Getim urba- 

 jium.) 



Aqueons de- 

 coction of ben 

 net root. 



Habitudes of 

 the decoction 

 with various 

 agents. 



OS TlIS BAllK Oy 



this strbstancfe,. which may be discovered by its complete ana- 

 lysis, it cannot present any uncertainty in regard to its pro" 

 perties. It appeared to nic most essential to verify the preu 

 dominant parts, those which physicians, of all times have 

 acknowledged to possess the real and distinguished properties* 



Of the Root of the Herb Bennet, (Geum urbanum, Lin.) 

 As there are several species of the herb bennet, I have men- 

 tioned the botanical name of that which should be preferred for 

 medical purposes. 



It is pretended that the word heymet is derived from hentdic-' 

 turn, (blessed, holy) ; a name given to this plant by the an- 

 cients, on account of the great virtues they attributed to it. 



Water wherein bennet root, dried and bruised, has been 

 boiled, acquires a deep brown colour, yielding an aiomatic 

 odour; its transparency is disturbed in cooling much* more 

 than the willow decoction. In this it resembles more nearly 

 the decoction of quinquina. It is bitter and very acerb to the 

 taste, and feebly reddens the tincture of turnsole. 



Solution of glue causes it to throw down a very abundant 

 precipitate ; and the supernatant liquor changes to blue, on 

 the addition of sulphate of iron. 



Lime water and water of barytes, when poured into 

 the decoctum, cause a flakey precipitate, of a reddish co- 

 lour, bordering upon violet. 



Solid caustic potash proves it contains azote ; the qnantity 

 of ammoniac disengaged from it is pretty considerable, par- 

 ticularly if the decoction be concentrated. The liquor then 

 assumes a red brown colour. 



Carbonates of pot-ash, of ammoniac, and acetate of pot, 

 ash, added to the decocium of bennet root, produce very abun- 

 dant precipitates. 



Muiiate and oxalate of ammoniac cause but slight depo- 

 sits. 



Sulphate of iron is precipitated of a beautiful blue colour, 

 the supernatant liquor always preserves this tint, but not. 

 so deep; it undergoes no change on the addition oi (loluNm of 

 glue. 



Several other metallic solutions are also decomposed by it 

 such as nitrates of silver and of mercury, sulphate of^-opper 

 and acetate of lead. TU 



