Foreign Vegetables. 49 
{mall Quantity : For from two Ounces of Rhu- 
barb, by common Water, were got one Ounce 
and twelve Grains of a gum mous Extract. The 
Proportion of Refin is very fmall, and That di- 
vided by a great deal of alkaline Salt *, infomuch 
that three Drachms of a falino-refinous Extrad: is 
as much as can well be obtained from two Ounces 
of the Root. Moreover, this Extradl, by reafon 
of the large Portion of Salt, eafily diffolves in 
common Water : And on the fame Account, the 
Tindture of Rhubarb made with Spirit of Wine 
does not turn milky in Water like other refinous 
Tindlures. 
All Phyficians allow two different Qualities in 
Rhubarb ; the one purgative, the other gently 
reftringent. It is efpecially reckoned an. excellent 
Chologogue •, and fome, by Reafon of its Efficacy 
in refolving Obftrudlions of the Liver, have dig- 
nified it with the Titles of Anima , Vita, and The- 
riaca Hepatis . It is ferviceable in the Jaundice, 
Loofeneffes, Gonorrhoeas, and the Fluor alhus » 
and aifo kills Worms. It is fometimes given with 
an Intention to evacuate Bile, and fometimes as an 
Alterative ; and is certainly an excellent Medicine, 
being accounted fafe not only to Children, Adults, 
and old People, but likewife to Women during 
their Pregnancy and Lying-in. 
But notwithstanding fo many Encomiums, we 
mud not fuppofe it entirely free from Inconveni- 
ences •, for it leaves the Inteftines dry, and is fome- 
times offenfive to the Kidneys,, Bladder, and Brain ; 
and is therefore improper when the Bowels or the 
Blood are over heated, or the Humours in a ftrong 
febrile Effervefcdnce. It is of great Service in the 
Jaundice, when a Vifcidity or Infpiffation of the 
Bile, obftru&ing the fecretory Du6ts of the Liver, 
is the Caufe of the Difeafe : But when it proceeds, 
E on 
