GEN′TIANIN

Syn. Gent i a nine ; Gentian in a , L. A substance obtained by MM. Henry and Caventou from the root of common gentian. Prep. 1. Gentian root (in powder) is digested for 2 or 3 days in cold ether, with agitation, and the filtered tincture evaporated to dryne ; the residuum is di olved in rectified spirit, and the solution is again evaporated; the semi-crystalline ma is, lastly, redi olved in either alcohol or ether, and crystallised by careful evaporation. 2. (Magendie.) The ethereal extract is exhausted with cold alcohol (rectified spirit), as before, and the resulting tincture is evaporated to dryne ; the residuum is di olved in water, calcined magnesia added in exce , and the whole boiled and filtered; the sediment is digested in ether, and the ethereal tincture allowed to crystallise by slow evaporation. Prop., . Gentian in forms golden-yellow needles, scarcely soluble in cold water, but very soluble in alcohol and ether. It is a powerful bitter and stomachic.— Dose , 1 ⁄ 2 gr. to 2 gr.