(seq. 137)

128

Materia Medica

Tonics

months, when he was perfectly cured, perhaps it may be said
that Iron was the chief agent, but it is certain that neither would
have acted so well alone. I have long been in the habit of giving
gentian in powder. And I think it little inferior to colombo, the
dose has generally been from ℈fs [½ scruple] to Ʒi [1 dram].

Gentiana Centaurium. This is the centaury so much valued by the
British physicians, it found in some of the United States,
in New Jersey the stalks and leaves are employed the blossoms
are insipid, it is destitute of smell. Alcohol and water extract
its virtue. Professor Murray prefers it to the Gentiana Lutea.
Dr Cullen remarks as an antseptic it is not inferior to the other
species, both have been used in Jaundice, which sometimes
depends on the torpor of the Alimentary Canal. And in
such cases I have no doubt may be used with success.
America possesses several species not known in the Old
World which would be worth attending to, in the glades
of Pennsylvania I have seen a low kind of Centaury with
narrow leaves, which I know to be a pure and valuable bitter,
the plant usually named the Centaury is not the Gent. Cent.
but the Cheronia Angularis. Frasera Verticiltata.