The Materia Medica.' 29

The leaves and ftalks of Broom have a naufeous bittertafte, and are accoünted deobftruent and diuretic ; they arefometimes laxative, and fometimes excite naufea. Theirdecoction has been often employed in dropfies. Moebringteils us that the poor in Friefland eure even an afeites withtheir deeoftion aione. (Aü. N. C. tom 5.) Dr. Mcad's cafeof an hydropic, who, after the paracentefis had been thriccperformed, and various medieines tried without relief, wasperfeäly cured by a deco&ion of Broom-tops with muftard-feed, may be feen in his Man. et Prafc. Med.

An infufion of the feeds, drunk freely, has been known tdproduce fitnilar effects. Dr. Witbering knew them fueeeedin one dcplorable cafe out of many in which it was tried.(Bot. Arrangem. Vol. II. ) The infufion of Broom-aflies inRhenifh was ufed fuccefsfully in dropfy by the venerable Sy-denbam, and in water, for the fame difeafe among the Swe-difhtroops, by Odbelius. Kongl. Vetenfk. Acad. Handl. 1762.

Gentiana, Gentian,the Root.

Ginfeng, Gin/eng,the Root.

Gentiana Iutea,L.S.V.

Panax quinquefolium,L. S. P.

■ Ginfeng is faid to be the root of a fmall plant growing inthe woods of China and Chinefe Tartary. It is found alfoin fome parts of North America, particularly Canada andPennfylvania, whence confiderable quantities have beenbrought over. It is two or three inches in length, taper, a-boutthethicknefsofthelittlefinger, or lefs, in the thickeft

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