RHUBARB. 315 



These poison nuts contain the peculiar vegetable principle 

 called Strychnine, which is remarkable for its powerful effect 

 on the nervous system of animals, and for its intense bit- 

 terness ; it is in consequence of this latter quality it has 

 lately been so much an object of interest, owing to state- 

 ments having been made that it was used to give a flavour 

 to the common beverage called bitter ale. This has been 

 contradicted by those most interested, nevertheless the most 

 suspicious point has not been cleared up. In 1840 only 

 550 pounds of Nux Vomica were imported, whereas in 

 1852 nearly as many tons reached the English markets. 

 The seeds are about the size of a shilling, twice as thick, 

 and have a silky appearance ; they are of less thickness in 

 the middle than at their edges, and have a small point or 

 umbilicus in the centre of the concave side, one surface 

 being more concave than the other. Their colour is a kind 

 of fawn or light drab. Nux Vomica is imported from Co- 

 romandel, Ceylon, etc. ; it is much used as a poison for 

 rats and mice. 



Rhubarb. — The dried roots of some species of Rheum. 

 (Nat. Ord. Polygonacece.) 



No drug in the whole Materia Medica has given rise to 

 more discussion as to its origin than the medicinal Rhubarb. 



