892 CTTLPEPBR'8 COMPLITI HSBBAL. 



In acute fevers, where it ia dangerous to take parcativea, 

 rhubarb may u^ safely given. In bloody flui, and those 

 loosenesses occasioned by acrid matter remainiug in the in- 

 testines, this root is very useful. There is a spirituous tinc- 

 ture sold in the shops, intended as a streogtheuer and pur- 

 gative ; for the first of these purposes, two or three spoon- 

 fuls is a sufficient dose at a time; but for the latter, two of 

 three ounces is frequently necessary. 



RHUBARB (CULINAEY, or TAUT.) -(Rheum 

 Rhxiponticum.) 



Descrip, — This has a larije root, thick at the head, and 

 divided mto many branches, of a dark brown on the out- 

 side, and a deep yellow colour within, of a bitterish taste. 

 From the root arise several large, somewhat crumpled, green 

 leaves; roundish, but pointed at the end, of a sourish taste, 

 growing on reddish footstalks, from among these arises a 

 thick stalk three or four feet high, having smAll leaves, and 

 a numerals company of white staminous SL\-Ieaved flowers, 

 succeeded by large, shining, triangular, brown seed. 



Place. — It is a native of Scythia, but grows in our gardens. 



Time, — It flowers in the middle of summer. 



Oovemment and Virtues, — It is ujider the dominion of 

 Mars. As to its purgative quality, it is much weaker than 

 Ehubarb, but is more astringent, and good in fluxes, and 

 weakness of the stomach, spitting of blood, and making 

 bloody urine. It is good against venomous bites. 



RHUBARB (GREAT MONK'S.>-C/?ttm«:r Alpinm 



Called also Great Garden Patience. 



Descrip. — At its first appearance, when the winter ia jxi^t, 

 it hath a great round brownish head, rising from the mid- 

 dle or sides of the root, which opens itself into sundry leaves 

 one after another, very much crumpled or folded together 

 at the first, and brownish ; but afterwards it spreads itself, 

 and becomes smooth, very large and almost round, every 

 one standing on a brownish stalk of the thickness of a man s 

 thumb, when they are grown to their fulness, and most of 

 them two feet or more in length, especially when they grow 

 in any moist or good ground; and the stalk of the leaf, from 

 the bottom thereof to the leaf itself, being also two feet, 

 the breadth thereof from edge to edge, in the broadest 

 nlace, being two feet, of a sad or dark green colour, of a 

 one tart or sourish taste, much more pleasant than the gar- 



