[ 391 ] 



Examination of two Parcels of Englijh Rhuharby 

 marked No.\. and No. II. fent^ to the Agricultural 

 Society at Bath^ in confequence of their Advertife^ 

 inent for a Premium^ relative to the raijing that 

 Drug in perfection in this Country. 



By W. Falconer, M. D. F. R. S. Phyfician to the 

 General Hofpital; 



And C. H. Parry, M. D. Phyfician to the Pauper 

 Charity, Bath. 



THE fpecimens of rhubarb No. I. and No. II. were 

 both in a rude ftate, being fimply cut in a tranfverfe - 

 direction into pieces of various thicknefs. Some of the 

 pieces had holes bored through the center, but the greater 

 part had not. The bark was, we believe, ftripped off, but 

 no farther dreffing was attempted ; confequentiy, the out- 

 fide was irregular and unfightly. The center parts of many 

 pieces were alfo in a foft, and rather decaying ftate. The 

 pieces varied much in fize, being from about three-quarters 

 of an inch to four inches or more in diameter. 



When broken, they appeared in general brittle, but mo- 

 derately dry, firm, and folid ; of a woody contexture, and 

 not hard, flinty, or horny, though fome of the lefler pieces 

 feemed to be inclining to thefe qualities. In colour, they 

 were of a whitifh ground, with numerous red ftreaks, re- 

 fembling the infide of a nutmeg; but fmaller and clofer 

 placed. No. I. in this refpe£l, feemed fuperior to No. II. 

 in general ; but this was not an univcrfal remark, as one 

 piece which we chanced to fcle£t of No. II. was equal, if 

 not fuperior, to any of No. I. which we examined. When 

 chewed, the taftc of each was nearly alike, being in both 



bitter 



