280 Botanic Drugs 



PHARMACOLOGY. By reason of its contained 

 chrysarobin, rhubarb imparts an orange-yellow 

 color to the urine. Rhubarb slightly increases the 

 flow of saliva; it is stomachic in moderate dosage 

 and promotes digestion; it is purgative in larger 

 doses. The drug possesses slight cholagogue effects. 

 Owing to the rheotannic acid therein, the purgative 

 influence of rhubarb is succeeded by constipation. 



THERAPEUTICS. An exceedingly useful purga- 

 tive; for, as has been said, "Rhubarb knows when 

 to stop." With the bitters and alkalies, rhubarb 

 should be used more commonly in the treatment of 

 indigestion, especially with children. The aromatic 

 syrup, combined with an alkali, is peculiarly effi- 

 cacious in summer diarrhea. Diarrhea marked by 

 intestinal relaxation and acrid secretion is a leading 

 indication for rhubarb. As a laxative and purgative 

 rhubarb is most valuable, but not especially so in 

 chronic constipation, owing to its astringency. 



The average dose is 15 grains; the fl. is given in 

 15-minim doses; the tr., used as a stomachic, in 

 doses of 20 to 60 minims ; the syrup and the aromatic 

 syrup, average dose 2 fluidrachms; the extract, used 

 in many pill formulae, 4 grains. The mixture of 

 rhubarb and soda is given in an average dose of 1 

 fluidrachm. 



RHUS 



Rhus aromatica, FRAGRANT SUMACH (the bark of 

 the root), contains a terebinthinate balsam and 

 tannin. Naturally, its action is on the kidneys. 

 How much of its tannin may reach the kidneys is 

 problematical, but its balsamic association renders 

 the systemic effect of the tannin more probable 

 than would be the case with uncombined tannin. 



