GERANIUM MACULATEM. 
25 
It is also stated by these analysts that the tannic and gallic acids of Geranium 
differ from those of oak-galls in not reddening vegetable blues, and by not pass¬ 
ing over in distillation. So far as the reddening of vegetable blues is concerned, 
as already noticed by us, their experiments do not accord with those of Dr. 
Staples, nor with our own, as will be seen by referring to the reactions mentioned 
below. 
An infusion of the mixed rhizome and rootlets bruised, in the proportion of 
one ounce to twenty-four ounces of boiling water, and allowed to macerate for 
twenty-four hours, had a pale yellowish-red colour; a strong astringent and pe¬ 
culiar taste; and a very faint and peculiar odour. It exhibited the following- 
reactions:— Blue litmus-paper was reddened by it; solution of gelatine caused a 
very abundant curdy precipitate ; by tincture of galls the colour was deepened 
to a deep reddish-brown, but no precipitate was produced; solution of persul¬ 
phate of iron caused a deep bluish-black coloration, and a copious precipitate of 
the same colour was slowly deposited ; solution of pcrchloride of iron caused nearly 
the same change in the infusion ; solution of antimoniate of potash produced an 
abundant yellowish-brown precipitate ; solution of carbonate of potash an abun¬ 
dant light brownish-white precipitate ; solution of potash formed slowly a copious 
light brownish precipitate ; solution of ferr idcyanide of potassium caused a copious 
yellow precipitate; solution of chromate of potash an abundant dirty yellowish- 
brown precipitate; baryta-ivater produced an abundant brownish gelatinous- 
like precipitate ; solution of nitrate of baryta caused a slow deposition of a slight 
brownish precipitate ; solution of acetate of lead rendered the infusion milky, and 
formed a light, abundant, whitish precipitate ; solution of basic acetate of lead 
gave a pinkish hue to the infusion, and produced an abundant, light precipitate; 
solution of ammonia simply deepened the natural colour of the infusion ; solution 
of oxalate of ammonia made the colour of the infusion pinkish, and ultimately 
caused a light, abundant precipitate; solution of chloride of lime at first coloured 
the infusion a deep reddish-brown, but ultimately it became bright yellow, and 
deposited a very light, copious, yellowish precipitate ; solution of sulphate of cop¬ 
per produced a plentiful dirty-brown precipitate ; solution of nitrate of silver an 
abundant deep reddish-brown powdery precipitate ; solution of bichloride of mer¬ 
cury caused a very abundant, light, whitish precipitate ; sulphuric acid caused 
the infusion to assume a pinkish hue, and to deposit slowly a plentiful pre¬ 
cipitate. No very evident changes were produced in the infusion by the addi¬ 
tion to it of either tincture of iodine , nitric , hydrochloric , or acetic acids; or of 
the solutions of ferrocyanide of potassium , bichloride of platinum , chloride of cal¬ 
cium. , sulphate of lime, sulphate of soda, or protochloride of tin. 
No very marked effects were produced upon the freshly-fractured surface or 
clean section of the rhizome by the application of either solution of ammonia i 
sulphuric , nitric , or hydrochloric acids. 
Medicinal Properties and Uses.— Dr Wood says,* “ Geranium is one of 
our best indigenous astringents, and may be employed for all the purposes to which 
those medicines are applicable. The absence of unpleasant taste and other offen¬ 
sive qualities renders it peculiarly serviceable in the cases of infants and persons 
of very delicate stomach. Diarrhoea, chronic dysentery, cholera infantum in the 
latter stages, and the various haemorrhages, are the forms of disease in which it 
is most commonly used, and with greatest advantage ; but care should be taken, 
before it is administered, that the condition of the system and of the part affected 
is such as not to contra-indicate the use of astringents. As an application to in¬ 
dolent ulcers, an injection in gleet and leucorrhoea, a gargle in relaxation of the 
uvula and aphthous ulcerations of the throat, it answers the same purpose as 
kino, catechu, and other medicines'of the same class.” Professor Barton, Dr. 
* 'Wood and Backe’s ‘United States Dispensatory/ 11th edit. p. 382. 
