V. The V laces. The firft grows naturally about 
jL aufanna in Savoy, as Tragus lays. The lecond 
grows naturally upon the Hills not far from Curia 
in Germany , as alfo near Triburg in Switzerland, 
and on the Mountains in Auflria: But with us 
they both grow only in Cardens , where they thrive 
and Hourilh very well. 
VI. The Times. Thefe Plants when Kuril up 
in our Gardens , Flower about the beginning or 
middle of June, (much about the time when our 
Common Docks Flower) and their Seed is ripe in 
July. The Roots are not to be taken up , till the 
Leaves and Stalks are quite withered and gone, 
which is about the middle or end of Ollober : 
for if they be taken up, either a little before the 
Leaves do fpring, or a while after they are fprung 
up, the Roots will not retain half fo good a color 
in them : It is alfo to be noted, that when they 
are taken up, they are to be lcraped very clean, 
and carefully dryed, fo as they may not touch one 
another till they are perfedtly dry. 
VII. The Qualities. Both thefe in refpect to 
heat or cold, are faid to be Temperate: Authors 
will have them to be moift, with a kind of clam- 
minefs : this poffibly the Leaves may be, whilelf 
they are young : but the dryed Roots are doubtlefs 
dry in the firft Degree. They are Aperitive, 
Abfterfive and Aftringenr, tho’ they have a Cathar- 
tick or Laxative force in loofening the Belly, for 
they certainly Bind after Purging. 
VIII. The Specification. The Roots and Seeds 
of both Kinds are prevalent againft a Bloody Flux, 
as alfo againft all other Fluxes of the Bowels; 
Vomiting and Sicknefs of the Stomach, bitings of 
Serpents or other Venomous Creatures ; theDroply, 
Jaundice, and all manner of Scabs, Leproly, and 
breakings out. The Roots of both Purge as the 
True Rhubarb does , faving (that they may have 
the lame effefls,) the Dofe mutt be augmented to 
treble the quantity. They are alfo faid to be abfo- 
lute in the Cure of Agues. 
IX. The Preparations. I. ASallet of the young 
end tender Leaves. 2. A Liquid Juice of the 
Leaves. 3.. A Decoliion or Infufwn of the Roots. 
4. A Diet Drink. 5. A Ponder of the Roots. 6 . 
A Ponder of the Roots compound. 7. A Ponder of 
the Seed. 8. A Diftilled Water. 
T be Virtues. 
X. The Sallet of the young and lender Leaves. 
Being boiled, and eaten with Butter , Vinegar, Salt 
and Pepper, as you eat Beets or Spinach, (tho’ it is 
not altogether fo pleafant) they nourifh but little, 
but make a thin Blood, loofen the Belly, and 
Purge away flimy Humors. 
XI. The Liquid Juice of the Leaves. Given 
to 2, 3, or 4 Spoonfuls, more or lefs (according 
to Age and Strength) it is a certain Cure for an 
Ague, being given in Glafs of warm Ale, clarifi- 
ed Whey, or the like. One John Benet a Chirur- 
gion of Maidflone in Kent , cured a Lad of an 
Ague therewith, which did grievoufly vex him : 
He took 3 or 4 Leaves (as Gerard lays) of this 
Plant of R ttliarb, beat it, and [trained out the 
Juice with a draught of Ale, and gave it the Lad 
in the Morning to Drink : it wrought extteamly 
both upwards and downwards, within one Hour 
after, and never ceafed untill Night : in the end, 
the Purging faculty of the Medicine abated and 
gave over working, and the Youth loft his Ague. 
Since which time (fay? he) he has cured with the 
lame Medicine, many others of the like Difeafe 
having always a regard to the quantity, which was 
me caufe ot the Violent working in the firft Cure. 
1 have iometimes alfo feen that the Liquid Juice 
of the green or frejh Roots being given in Iike’man- 
ner, has alfo cured Agues, as well as the Juice of 
the Leaves. The Juice of the Leaves dr Roots 
mixed with a little Vinegar , is ufed as a moft 
effoitual Remedy for the Cure of Scabs and run- 
mng bores. 
Ml. The Decoliion or Infufwn of the Roots. 
i he Roots fitted and baled in 1 1 liter of Cardttt/s Be- 
nediaus to the confumption of a third' part, and then 
Jweetncd with a little Honey : Being given to the 
quantity of 8 or 9 Spoonfuls at a time, before the 
coming of the bit of an Ague, generally cures it 
at 2 or 3 times fo taking it; luch as are ot a robuft 
or ltrong Body, may take 12 Spoonfuls of it at a 
time. The truth ot this has been proved by many 
experiments , (as Gerard fays.) The Jlmplc De- 
ception of the Roots of Patience or Monks Rubarb 
loofens the Belly, Purges gently, helps againft the 
Jaundice and Dropfie, and other likeDifejfes pro- 
ceeding from a cold caufe; is good againft the 
Stinging of Serpents, helps the Sicknefs of the 
Stomach anting from Choler, and cures the Bloody 
r lux, as alio other Fluxes of the Bowels : and be- 
ing taken with Acacia, or Juice of Sloes it is faid 
to cure the fpitting of Blood. The DecoSwnof the 
Roots ,n Vinegar, is effeaual to heal inveterate 
Scabs, and old running Sores. The Decoliion of the 
Roots of Baflard Rhubarb . in Vinegar has the fame 
Virtues 5 and being dropt into the Ears it eafes their 
pain, gargled in the Mouth it cures Sores and 
Ulcers therein, and eafes theTooth-ach: and being 
Drank, or taken inwardly it prevails againft the 
Jaundice, Dropfie, Gout, Rhumatiim, Kings-Evil 
Stone, Gravel, Sand, Strangury, (Pc. it opens and’ 
purges the Liver, Spleen , Reins and Belly, and 
cleanfes and cools the Blood. But for the general 
ufein curing all thefe Diftempers the Dccohion or 
Infufwn may be made in Water, or Clarified Whey ■ 
and if the Patient like of it, it may be a little 
fweetned with Syrup of Violets, or Syrup of Roles 
Soluttve. J 
XIII. The Diet Drink. Take Roots of Monks 
Rhubarb fhced, and Roots of red Madder, of each 
S Ounces : Sena 4 Ounces : Anifeed bruifed. Liquo- 
rice bntifed, of each 2 Ounces: Agrimony, Scabi- 
ous of each one Handful , which cut a little 
with a Knife, put them into an Earthen Stean, 
or a fmall Wooden Cask , which may hold 4 Gallons 
or better .- affttfe thereon 4 Gallons of Strong new 
Ale ; which let fland for 3 Days. At the end of 
that time the Patient may drink of it, as ordinary 
Drink for 3 Weeks or a Month together, (and the 
longer it is continued the better) providing another 
like Cask of the fame , to have in readinefs one 
under another. It is faid to Cure the Dropfy 
Jaundice, Gout, Rhumatifm, Spleen, Rickets in 
Children, Kings-Evil, and aU mamer of Itch 
Manginefs, Scabs, Puftules, and other Breakings 
out in the whole Body : it purifies or cleanfes the 
Blood from all Corruption, prevails againft the 
Green-Sickneft, and admirably opens all manner of 
obft ructions of the Stomach, Lungs, Liver, Spleen 
Mefentery, Reinsand Womb, provoking the Terms 
when ftopt, after a lingular manner. 
XIV. The Bonder of the Roots. A Dramandba/f 
or 2 Drams of the Fonder of Monks Rhubarb mixt 
with Ginger in Fonder a Scruple , and taken falling 
in a Dilh of warm Broth or Poflet Drink, Purges 
Choler and Flegm very gently and lafely without 
any the leaft danger. The Fonder of the Root of 
the Baftard Rhubarb dees the fame thing, but is 
more 
it 
i ii 
