OTTLPEPKB'B OOICPLSTB HERBAL. 291 



without thorns when they are young, but afterwards arm- 

 ed in sundry places with short and sharp thorns. The flow- 

 ers come forth at the tops of the twigs and branches, like 

 peas and broom blossoms, but lesser, flatter, and somewhat 

 closer, of a faint purplish colour; after which come small 

 pods, containing small, flat, round seed ; the root is black- 

 ish on the outside, and whitish within, very rough, and hard 

 to break when it is fresh and green, and as hard as horn 

 when it is dried. 



Place.— It grows in many places in this Ian i, as well in 

 *he arable as waste ground. 



Time. — It flowers in July, the seed is ripe in August. 



Oovemment and Virtues. — It is under tne dominion of 

 Mam It is excellent to provoke urine, and to break and 

 expel the stone, which the bark of the root taken in wine 

 performs efl^ectually. The decoction with some vinegar used 

 to wash out the mouth, eases tooth -ache, especially when it 

 comet of rheum ; it is powerful to open obstructions of the 

 liver and spleen, and other parts. The powder of the root 

 made into an electuary, or lozenges, with sugar, as also 

 the bark of the fresh roots boiled tender, and afterwards 

 beaten to a conserve with sugar, works the like effect. The 

 powder of the roots strewed upon the brims of ulcers, or 

 mixed with anv other convenient thing, and applied, con- 

 somefl the hardness, and causes them to heal the better. 



RKVBABB.— (Rheum Falmatum.) 



DtBcrip, — This has a long, thick, perennial root, of a yel- 

 low colour on the outside, and marbled within, full of red- 

 dish veins ; Arm, but not too hard or heavy, of a pretty 

 strong smell, of a bitterish, somewhat styptic taste, tmgiug 

 the spittle of a yellow satijron colour. 



Place. — The roots are brought from China, Turkey, Rua- 

 fia, and Siberia ; but as good rhubarb plants now grows in 

 our botanic gardens as any that come irom abroad. 



Time. — It flowers in June and July. 



Government and Virtues. — It is a mild purgative, and also 

 a mild astringent. It strengthens the intestines, and gen- 

 erally leaves the belly costive, for which reason it is prefer- 

 ed to other purgatives, in obstinate purgiugs, aud bloody 

 flux. It is given more as a strengtheuer than hs a purgar 

 tive. That of a bright, or light texture, moi:it, fragrant^ 

 and aoand, «)hould be chosen, as being milder in its opera- 

 tioD, more grateful to the stomach, and more likely to ans- 

 wer the purpose of an astringent a diuretic, or an al terative^ 



