CENTAURY. 



525 



part of the plant used in medicine, has no smeU, 

 but has an extremely bitter taste. This bitter 

 principle is readily yielded to alcohol and water, 

 but more so to the former than to the latter. 

 Gentian possesses the general virtues of bitters 

 in an eminent degree, and it is totally devoid of 

 astringency. On dead animal matter it acts as 

 an antiseptic. Taken into the stomach, it proves 

 a powerful tonic, and in large doses acts as a 

 laxative. 



The Purple Gentian (g. purpurea), is ano- 

 ther species, having similar properties to the yel- 

 low. It is a native of the Alps, and was first 

 introduced into this country for the purpose of 

 cultivation by Saussure, in 1768. The root is 

 perennial, cylindrical, slender, branched, exter- 

 nally of a brown colour, and yellow in the 

 inside. The stem grows erect to the height of a 

 foot, is simple, smooth, strong, succulent. The 

 lower leaves are nearly elliptical, ribbed, and 

 entire. The upper leaves are in pairs, sheath- 

 like, concave, pointed, ribbed, embrace the stem, 

 and enclose the flowers. These are of a purple 

 colour, and stand in whorls upon short peduncles. 

 The calyx is a deciduous scape ; the corolla 

 bell-shaped, plaited, and of a purple colour ; the 

 ovate two-celled capsule containing numerous 

 seeds. The root, both in appearance, taste, and 

 medicinal qualities, exactly resembles the other, 

 - and may be employed for the same uses. It is 

 said that the Swiss and other peasants of the 

 chiU Alpine parts of Europe use a decoction of 

 the gentian and other bitter roots, as a cordial 

 drink ; and it is probable it may prove a whole- 

 some tonic and stimulant in those moist and 

 inclement regions which they inhabit. Gentian 

 and the root of the acorus calamus, or sweet 

 flag, form the chief ingredients in the Stockton 

 and other bitters used by the common people of 

 this country. The great objection to them is 

 the strong spirituous menstruum in which they 

 are infused. An infusion in simple water, with 

 as much spirits as would be sufficient to prevent 

 putrefaction, would be equally useful, and less 

 productive of abuse. 



Centaury (chironia, centaurium ) . Pentan- 

 dria, monogynia, of Linnseus. This plant was 

 originally classed with the gentians by Linnceus, 

 from which family, however, it essentially diSfers. 

 The root is annual, woody, fibrous, and of a 

 yellowish colour. The stalk is erect, with few 

 branches, smooth, angular, and usually rises from 

 six to ten inches in length. The leaves are oppo- 

 site, sessile, smooth, oblong, ribbed, and blunt at 

 the points. The flowers are terminal, produced 

 in a bunch, with five pinkish-coloured petals. 

 The plant is common in Britain in woods and 

 pastures, and flowers in July. 



The centaury was formerly much used, both 

 by physicians and by the country people, as a 

 bitter. It is less employed in modern times^ 



Centaury. 



although the testimony of CuUen, Lewis, and 

 other writers on medicinal plants, is highly 

 ,„u favourable to its virtues. The 



tender leaves, shoots, and 

 flowers of the top of the plant, 

 are those parts of it used. Its 

 active parts are dissolved 

 readily both by water and rec- 

 tified spirit; the herb, after 

 infusion in sufficient quanti- 

 ties of either fluids, being 

 quite insipid. Water takes up 

 along with the bitter a large 

 quantity of an insipid muci- 

 laginous substance, where- 

 as rectified spirit seems to dis- 

 solve little more than the pure bitter part. Hence, 

 on evaporating the two solutions to the same 

 consistencies, the watery extract proves much less 

 bitter than the spirituous, while its quantity is 

 above four times greater. " The centaury," says 

 Dr WoodviUe, " is justly esteemed to be the most 

 efficacious bitter of all the medicinal plants, indi- 

 genous to this country. It has been recom- 

 mended by Dr CuUen as a substitute for gentian, 

 and by several thought to be a more useful medi- 

 cine. Experiments also prove, that it possesses an 

 equal degree of antiseptic power. Many authors 

 have observed, that along with the tonic and 

 stomachic qualities of a bitter, it frequently 

 proves laxative; but it is probable that this seldom 

 happens unless the dose be very large. The use 

 of this, as well as the other bitters, was formerly 

 common in febrile disorders previous to the know- 

 ledge of Peruvian bark, which now supersedes 

 them perhaps too generally, for many cases of 

 fever occur which are found to be aggravated by 

 the cinchona, yet afterwards readily yield to 

 simple bitters." 



Its use as a vermifuge depends upon its bitter 

 qualities and hence it will be found more effica- 

 cious for strengthening the bowels, after the 

 expulsion of worms by other more powerful 

 medicines, and thus preventing their return. 



Water Trefoil, or Buck Bean. Pentandria, 

 monogynia. This is a very common plant in 

 Britain, growing in marshes and by the sides of 

 ponds, and flowers about the latter end of June. 

 The stalk rises from a sheath to the height of 

 six or twelve inches. The leaves are temate, 

 waved at the margins, and resemble the common 

 bean ; hence the common name of buck bean. 

 The petals are pink coloured on the outside, and 

 within finely fringed, so as to have a fibrous 

 or hairy appearance. The root is perennial, 

 jointed, and sends forth many long slender fila- 

 ments. The whole plant is so extremely bitter, 

 that in some countries it is used as a substitute 

 for hops in the preparation of malt liquor ; yet, 

 according to Linnseus, the poorer people in Lap- 

 land make a bread of the powdered roots mixed 



