Bitterness prevails through the whole herh, hut 
it is the root that is generally employed. The 
earliest English description of the j^ilant which we 
possess is that of Dr. Turner, a specimen of which 
we will present to our readers, verbatim. He says, 
“It is som tyme tw'O cuhites high : it hatlie a brode 
lyght sede, in litle vesseles, som thinge rowghe or 
chaffye lyke vnto the sede of the herhe called Spo- 
dilion. The rowte is lyke vnto y' rowthe of longe 
Aristolochia, it is thicke and bitter, and it growethe 
in y'’ hyghe toppes of montaynes, & in shadowe 
and waterishe places.” The same author states, 
that “The vertue of the roote is hetinge and bynd- 
ynge together. If it be dronke in the quantite of 
ii drames, wyth j^eper me and wyne, it heljreth the 
hytinge of serpentes.” We cannot follow Dr. Tur- 
ner thimigh all the virtues of Gentian ; we may, 
however, just mention, for the benefit of those who 
patronise cosmetics, that “The rote scowreth away 
the frekilles and foul spottes.” 
It is not alone in ancient practice that the Gen- 
tiana lutea has been regarded as valuable, for its 
high medicinal character has been maintained 
through all ages. The root is the part employed, 
and, both in aqueous infusion, spirituous tincture, 
and in extract, it is now extensively prescribed as 
the best tonic and stomachic. As a bitter for malt 
liquor, it is still frequently used, and is, doubt- 
less, as wholesome as the hop itself, although 
somewhat less jralatable. 
In cultivation, the Gentiana lutea should have 
peat mixed with the earth, and its situation should 
be rather shady. 
