RHEUM PALMATUM. 
119 
Medical Properties and Uses. Although the medicinal 
properties of elder are not inconsiderable, it is but seldom prescribed 
in the present day. Both Boerhaave and Sydenham* recommended 
it in a variety of diseases ; and the latter prescribed it as a powerful 
remedy for the cure of dropsy; a strong decoction of the inner 
bark proving both emetic and cathartic, and upon these evacuations 
its utility depends. An infusion of the young leaves is said to prove 
so violently cathartic, as to be deservedly accounted unsafe. The 
expressed juice of the berries, in doses of half an ounce or more, 
acts as a gentle aperient, and in smaller doses has proved an 
efficacious deobstruent ; an infusion of the inner green bark of the 
trunk in wine is given for the same purposes. The inspissated 
juice or rob dissolved in water, with the addition of nitrate of 
potass, or liq. ammon. acet. proves an excellent febrifuge and 
diaphoretic, and is at the same time somewhat laxative. As an 
external application, an ointment prepared with the flowers is con- 
sidered cooling and emollient. 
Off. The Flowers. 
Off. Pp. Succus spissatus Sarabuci Nigrae, E. 
- Unguentum Sambuci, L. D. 
RHEUM PALMATUM. 
Palmated Rhubarb. •\ 
Class Enneandria. — Order Trigynia. 
Nat. Ord. Olerace^, Linn. Polygone^, Juss. 
Gen. Char. Calyx 0. Corolla monopetalous, six-cleft. 
Filaments nine, inserted into the corolla. Germen short, 
scarcely any style. Stigma three. Seed one, large, three- 
sided. 
Spec. Char. Leaves palmate, pointed. 
It might at first appear strange, that so little should be known of 
the history of a plant which has so long formed an important article 
of commerce, and which has, for such a series of years, been received 
* Oper. p. 49 
+ Fig, rt, represents a perfect flower, b, A seed. 
