a ee 
“ Thefe roots have fcarcely any fmell, or particular tafte; when 
’ frefh they are faid to be fomewhat acrid, but as brought to us they 
difcover, even when long chewed, no other than a flight un@uofity 
in the mouth. Boiled in water they impart a reddifh colour, and a 
kind of vapid foftnefs: the decoction, infpiffated, yields an un@tuous . 
farinaceous almoft infipidjmafs, amounting to upwards of half the 
weight of the root.” * 
About the year 1535 this root was firft brought to Europe with 
the character of being an incomparable medicine for the cure of the 
venereal difeafe.° For this purpofe it was given in the form of a 
_ decoétion, of which a large cupful was ordered to be made hot, and 
taken by the patient every morning while in bed, in order to produce 
a diaphoretic effe&t for two or three hours. 
This, and the occafional ufe of purgatives, was to be purfued for 
twenty-four days, after which the deco€tion was to be ufed as a 
common drink.* ; 
This root was alfo recommended in many other diforders, efpecially 
thofe of a chronic and inveterate kind, as fome cutaneous difeafes, 
obftrutions, rheumatifms, &c. But whatever may have been the 
opinion formerly entertained of the efficacy of China root, phyficians, 
at this time, agree in confidering it as a very inert fubftance, and there- 
fore it is rarely employed. Like the farfaparilla, by which it has 
been fuperfeded, it contaims a confiderable fhare of bland nutritive 
matter, and appears to us not lefs adapted to the auxilliary purpofes 
of medicine. - 
» Lewis. J. ¢. 
» Thevet. Cofmogr. univers. L. ¥1. ¢- 25+ 
© Vefalius, Epift. de rad. chine in Aphar. p- 598. Sc- Aftruc. de morb. ven. p. 142- 
= 
" - RUSCUS ACULEATUS. 
