292 FAMILY HERBAL. 



appears mucli more plainly in the dry, than in the 

 fresh root. 



The root Is used: its Tirtues are sufficiently 

 known ; it is a gentle purge^ and has an after as- 

 iringeucy. It is excellent to strengthen the sto- 

 mach and bowels^ to prevent vomitings^ and carry 

 off the cause pf colics ; in the jaundice also it is 

 extremely useful. Rhubarb" and nutmeg toasted 

 together before the fire, na^ke an excellent remedy 

 against purgings. There is scarce any chronic dis- 

 ease in vvhich rhubarh is not serviceable. 



The Rhapontic monks rhubarb, and false monks' 

 rhubarb, all approach to the nature of the truq 



been described 



pi 



RuE» Ruta. 



"A PRETTY little shrub, frequent in our gar- 

 dens. It grcws three or four feet high. The stem 



IS firm^ upright, and woody ; very tough, *nd 

 covered with a whitish bark. The branches are 

 numerous, and the young shoots are round, green, 

 and smooth ; the leaves . are composed of many 

 smaller divisions ; they are of a blue green colour, 

 and fleshy substance-; and each division is short, 

 obtuse, and roundish. The flowers are yellow, not 

 large, but very conspicuous; they have a quantity 

 of threads in the center, and they are succeeded by 



rough seed-vessels. 



Rue is to he used fresh gathered, and the tops 

 of the young shoots contain its greatest virtue. 

 They are io be given in infusion : or they may be 

 beaten up into a conserve with three times their 

 weight of sugar, and taken in that form. The in- 

 fusion is an excellent medicine in fevers; it raises 

 the spirits, and pro/notes sweat, drives any thing 



