ottlpeper's complete herbal. 293 



den or wood aorrel. The root grows very great, with divers 

 great spreading branches from it, of a dark brownish or 

 reddish colour on the outside, with a pale yellow skin uuder 

 it, which covers the inner substance or root, which rind and 

 skin being pared away, the root appears of so fresh and 

 lively a colour, with fresh coloured veins running through 

 it, that the choicest of the Rhubarb that is brought from be- 

 yond the seas cannot excel it, which root, if it be dried care- 

 fully, by the gentle heat of a fire, and every piece kept from 

 touching one another, will hold its colour almost as well as 

 when it is fresh, and hath been approved of and commend- 

 ed by those who have oftentimes used it. 



Place. — It grows in gardens, and flowers in June ; the 

 ■eed is ripe in July. 



Time.— The roots that are to be dried and kept all the 



{rear following, are not to be taken up until the stalk and 

 eaves are quite withered and gone, and that is not until the 

 middle or end of October ; and if they be taken a little be- 

 fore the leaves spring, or when they are sprung up, the 

 roots will not have half so good a colour in them. 



OovemmerU and Virtues. — Mars claims dominion over all 

 these wholesome herbs. A dram of the dried root, with a 

 scruple of ginger made into powder, and taken fasting in a 

 drauL;ht of warm broth, purges choler and phlegm aown- 

 wards very gently and safely, without danger. The seed 

 thereof bin(£ the bellv, and helps to stay bloody -flux. The 

 distilled water heals foul ulcerous sores, and allays inflam- 

 mation of them ; the juice of the leaves or roots, or the de- 

 coction of them in vinegar, is used as a most effectual reme- 

 dy to heal running sores. The Culinary Rhubarb has all the 

 properties of Monk's Rhubarb, but is more eff'ectual both 

 for inward and outward diseases. The decoction without 

 vinegar dropped into the ears, takes away the pains ; garb- 

 led in the mouth, takes away the tooth -ache; and if drank, 

 heala the jaundice. The seed taken, eases the griping pains 

 of the stomach, and takes away the loathing unto meat 

 The root helps the ruggeduess of the nails; and if boiled in 

 wine, helps the swelling of the throat, called king's-evil, as 

 well as the swellings of the kernels of the ears. It expelf 

 the stoDe, provokes urine, and helps the dimness of sight 

 The Culiuary Rhubarb purges the cnoler and phlegm, taken 

 either by itself, made into powder, and dranx in a draught 

 of white wine, or steeped therein all nicbt, and taken fast- 

 ing, or put into other purgatives, as uiail bs oouveuieiii| 



