(seq. 135)

126

Materia Medica

Tonics

to cinchona in intermittant fevers. Dr Cullen speaks in the highest
terms of it and assures it never failed when he combined it
with gall and tormentil. Elix. Stom. Which is so much
used in Britain and America is made by mixing Cort. bit.
Aurant. and Rad. gentian. Linneus found gentian usefull in
calculous, this I am inclined to believe from what I have said of it
in gout, Gisner cured intermittants with the juice, Lentill used it
with Sal. Absynth, clove, and ash bark. It is particularly
recommended in Schrophula, Plentz cured a girl by giving half a scruple
a day, and from the effect of bark in this disease, I have no
doubt but gentian may be used with advantage. It has been
extolled in histeria and nervous diseases. I believe it has virtues
as an anthelmintic, but what are common to all bitters,
Professor Murray supposes it operates by giving tone to the system.
Perhaps it acts by purging or a quality deleterious to worms. I
have lately used it with advantage in cases of obstinate gleet.
I believe when properly given it will seldom fail. I have lately
had a case of long standing, which had been under the care of
several physicians. I gave the patient grs v. [5 grains] Rubeg. fer. and grs.
viij [8 grains] of Rad. gentian twice a day, and continued three