" Take of gentian, sliced, orange peel, dried, of each two drachms; fresh lemon-peel, four drachms; boiling distilled water, a pint. Macerate for an hour in a lightly-covered vessel, and strain."

Edinburgh.

"Take of gentian root, sliced, half an ounce; dried orange-peel, bruised, coriander seeds, bruised, of each a drachm; diluted alcohol, four ounces; water, one pound. First, pour on the alcohol, and after three hours, the water; then macerate without heat for twelve hours, and strain."

Dublin.

"Take of gentian root, bruised, two drachms; fresh lemon-peel, half an ounce; dried orange-peel, a drachm and a half; proof spirit, four ounces by measure; boiling water, twelve ounces by measure. First, pour on the spirit, and, three hours afterwards, the water; then macerate for the space of two days, and strain."

The spirit ordered by the Edinburgh and Dublin Colleges is intended to aid the solvent power of the water, and to preserve the infusion, which in summer soon becomes ropy and spoils; but as infusions can always easily be prepared, and boiling water takes up the greater part of the active matter of the ingredients, the spirituous addition, and the length of time ordered for the maceration, are certainly objectionable. The formula of the London College is free from both these objections, and produces a clear infusion, of a yellowish colour, with the agreeable odour of the orange-peel, and a pleasant bitter taste.

Medical properties and uses. - These are very commonly used, and are elegant tonic and stomachic infusions. They are given in dyspepsia and chlorosis, united with chalybeates, or with alkalies; in atonic gout and diarrhoea, with absorbents and aromatics; in jaundice, with rhubarb and saline purgatives; and in dropsies, with squills and neutral salts. From f j. to ij. may be given for a dose, three or four times a day.