NAT. ORDER. GENTIANE^. 
61 
enables the stomach to bear and digest solid food, and thus cures 
dyspepsia. 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, 
hysteria, 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 peltatum, 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. 
