ON  FRAZERA  WALTERI  (AMERICAN  COLUMBO).  309 
ON  FRAZERA  WALTERI  (AMERICAN  COLUMBO). 
By  Frank  W.  Thomas. 
(Abstract  of  an  Inaugural  Essay.) 
The  Frazera  Walteri  is  an  herbaceous  perennial  plant,  belong- 
ing to  the  Gentianaceae.    It  varies  in  height  from  three  to  eight 
feet,  has  an  erect  stem,  and  has  its  leaves  verticillated  in  whorls. 
The  flowers  are  large  and  numerous,  in  a  terminal  panicle.  The 
fruit  is  an  oval  flattened  capsule,  containing  from  four  to  twelve 
seeds. 
The  root,  which  is  the  part  used  in  medicine,  is  fleshy,  hori- 
zontal, and  spindle-shaped,  with  but  few  lateral  fibrous  radicles. 
It  has  very  little  odor,  and  a  sweetish  bitter  taste.  The  Frazera 
is  indigenous  to  the  western  States,  and  is  rarely  seen  east  of 
the  mountains,  and  prefers  rich  and  moist  lands.* 
The  author's  aim  has  been  to  determine  whether  the  tonic 
properties  of  American  columbo  are  due  to  principles  similar  to 
those  in  the  true  columbo  root. 
A  cold  infusion  of  a  pint  from  two  ounces  of  the  powdered 
root,  by  percolation,  possessed  a  bright  reddish-brown  color  and 
agreeable  bitter  taste,  and  a  decided  acid  reaction.  It  was  not 
affected  by  solution  of  corrosive  sublimate,  or  by  tannin,  nor  was 
its  transparency  affected  by  heat,  and  contains  no  albumen  ;  but 
it  is  abundantly  precipitated  by  subacetate  of  lead. 
Tincture  of  iodine  produced  no  blue  coloration  when  added  to 
a  decoction  of  the  root  after  cooling. 
When  500  grains  of  the  root  was  digested  in  water  fourteen 
hours,  and  the  infusion  acidulated  with  sulphuric  acid,  and  then 
precipitated  with  ammonia,  a  whitish  granular  powder  was  ob- 
tained, tasteless  and  insoluble  in  alcohol,  ether  and  water,  and 
unaffected  by  a  high  heat. 
The  root  yields  pectic  acid  by  the  successive  action  of  carbon- 
ate of  soda  and  hydrochloric  acid. 
The  ethereal  tincture  had  a  bright  yellow  color,  and  slightly 
bitter  taste.  This,  on  evaporation,  yielded  a  fixed  oil,  resin, 
yellow  coloring  matter,  and  a  wax-like  substance  insoluble  in 
alcohol. 
*  [We  have  seen  it  growing  in  great  luxuriance  on  the  bottom  lands 
bordering  the  Ohio  river  above  Wheeling,  on  the  Ohio  side. — Editor.] 
