A P P E N D I X If. 337 



The R. Rhabarbarum grows in the crevices of bareR.RUabai- 



barum. 



rocky mountains, and alfo upon gravelly foils : it is 

 more particularly found in the high vallies of the roman- 

 tic country fituated beyond Lake Baikal. Its buds do 

 not fhoot before the end of April; and it continues in 

 flower during the whole month of May. The ftalks of 

 the leaves are eaten raw by the Tartars : they produce 

 upon moft perfons, who are unaccuftomed to them, a 

 kind of f jhafmodic contraction of the throat, which goes 

 off in a few hours ; it returns however at every meal, 

 iuntil they become habituated to this kind of diet. The 

 Ruffians make ufe of the leaves in their hodge-podge : 

 accordingly, foups of this fort afFe6t ftrangers in the man- 

 ner above mentioned. In Siberia the ftalk is fometimes 

 preferved as a fweet-meat ; and a cuftom prevails anitong 

 the Germans of introducing at their tables the buds of 

 this plant, as well as of the Rheum Palmatura, inllead of 

 cauli-flower. 



The R. Rhaponticum which commonly grows nearR.Rhapon- 



licum. 



the torrents has, as well as the R. Rhabarbarum of Sibe- 

 ria, the upper part of its roots commonly rotten, from 

 too much moifture : accordingly, a very fir.all portion of 

 the lower extremity is fit for ufe. The Ruffian College 

 of Phyficians order, for the ufe of their military hof- 

 pitals, large quantities of thefe roots to be dug up in 

 Siberia, which are prefcribed under the name of rha- 

 pontic. But the perfons employed in digging and pre • 

 paring it are fo ill initruited for that purpofe, that its 



X X -heft 



