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gether fo purgative as the Turkey Rhubarb of the 

 Ihops. I gave to two or three perfons this root in 

 its frefh ftate, that is, undriedy diredting them to 

 bruife about half an ounce, and boil it in half a 

 pint of water, till reduced to one quarter of a pint. 

 This had all the good and fimilar efFeds with the 

 true (hop Rhubarb^ infomuch, as I am greatly in- 

 clined to think, that the green root of the Rheum 

 Palmatum may be ufed with fafety and efFe6b. 

 This root, when dried and prepared, yielded a good 

 quantity of well-looking Rhubarb, which, when 

 powdered, had all the appearance of fliop Rhubarb, 

 but was milder and more grateful to the tafte, I 

 took once a dofe of this Rhubarb myfelf, for a 

 complaint in my ftomach; for which I had always 

 before taken Turkey Rhubarb, and found exactly 

 the fame relief I had ufually received, only with a 

 lefs purgative effedl in the bowels, 



" In the beginning of this prefent winter 1778, 

 I have taken up two more roots -, the one weighed 

 eigJiteen, the other twenty-one pounds, and I have 

 little doubt of their virtue and efficacy having been 

 improved, as well as their fize and quantity in- 

 creafed ; and I am of opinion, they will continue fo 

 to do in all the above refpedls for two or three years 

 longer. Eight years old, I am inclined to think 



from 



