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Linrj^i, SpeEf, plant,-, and fo fays Mr. Vocbi»» 

 Now, this defcription is affixed by Linnseus to the 

 Undulatumy which is not at prefent underftood to 

 be the true Rhubarb, On the other hand. Dr. 

 Rutty aflerts the Palmatum of Linnaeus to be the 

 true Rhubarb ; and I believe that opinion is now 

 generally thought to be right by the bed botanifts 

 and ablefl phyficians. It is called Rba, by the 

 Tartars ; and from thence is derived Rba Barba- 

 rum, as growing among barbarous /nations. It is 

 named Rha, from the river Volga, which is fo 

 called by the Tartars, near which it is cultivated. 

 It was firft mentioned by Alexander Trallianus, in 

 the year 560, but appears to have been in ufe 

 ^mong the Arabs prior to that period. 



In earlier times, the Rhapontic was thought to 

 be the true Rhubarb, and fpoken of as fuch by 

 Piofcorides and Cclfus ; being the Rheum or Rha 

 of the former, and the Radix Pontica of the latter. 



The marks of its goodnefs are, to be perfe<5lly 

 dry and friable, yet with a good degree of hard- 

 nefs or folidity, and perfectly uniform in its fub- 

 ftance. It generally comes to us in roundifh pieces, 

 with a hole through the middle of each, and is 

 pxt^rp^lly of a yellow colour, but that in foreign 



Rhubarb 



