RUE. 14-7 



Medical practitioners are now so frequent 

 in every part of the kingdom, that medicinal 

 herbs are much less planted in private gar- 

 dens than formerly, and it is now rare to see 

 the rue shrub occupy a corner in the cot- 

 tager's garden. Formerly, the English as 

 well as the Germans and the Dutch used 

 rue in their ragouts : it has a strong ungrate- 

 ful smell, and a bitterish penetrating taste. 

 The leaves, when full of vigour, are extremely 

 acrid, so much so as to inflame and blister 

 the skin, if much handled. With regard to 

 their medicinal virtues, they are powerfully 

 stimulating, attenuating, and detergent ; 

 and hence, in cold phlegmatic habits, they 

 quicken the circulation, dissolve tenacious 

 juices, remove glandular obstructions, and 

 promote the fluid secretions. 



Writers on the Materia Medica in general 

 have entertained a very high opinion of the 

 virtues of this plant. Boerhaave is full of 

 its praises ; particularly of the essential oil, 

 and the distilled water. After extravagantly 

 commending other waters prepared in this 

 manner, he adds, with regard to that of rue, 

 that the greatest commendation he can be- 

 stow upon it falls short of its merit : " What 



