Lib. 2, 
Of the Hiftory of Plants. 
595 
^RhaPomcumSiccatum. m The Temperature. 
Rubarb of Pontus dried. 
Rubarb is of a mixt fubftance , tempera- 
ture and faculties : fome of the parts thereof 
are earthy, binding and drying : others thin, 
airious,hot,and purging. 
TheVertucs. 
Rubarb is commended by Diofcorides a- 
gamft w indineiTe,vveakneffe of the ftomack, 
and all griefes thereof, cbnvul'fions, difeafes 
Of the fpleene, liuer, and kiddies, gripings 
and inward gnawings of the guts, infirmities 
of the bladder and chert, fwelling about the 
heart, difeafes of the matrix, paine in the 
buckle bones, fpittingof blond , fbortnefle 
ofbreath, yexing, or the hicket, the bloudie 
flix, the laske proceeding of raw humors, fits 
in Agues, and againft the bitings of veno- 
mous hearts . 
Moreouer he frith, that it taketh away 
blackeand blew fpots, and tetters or Rini- “ 
wormes,ifit be mixed with vineger, and the 
place anointed therewith. 
Galen affirmes it to be good for burftings C 
cramps, and convulfions, and forthofe that 
are fhort winded, and that fpit blond. 
Bur torching the purging facultie nei- D 
ther Diofcoridei nor Galen hath written any 
thing, becaufe it vyas not vfed in thofe daies 
. topurgewith, Galen held opinion, that the 
hrnneairious parts doe make the binding qualitie of more force; not becaufe it doth refift the 
old and earthy fubftance, but by reafon that it carrieth the fame, and rnaketh it deeply to pierce 
nd thereby to workfc the greater effed : 5 the dry and thinne eflence containing in it feffe a pnrgin a 
■ orce and qualitie to open obftrudions, but helped and made more facile by the fubt'il and air ous 
arts. Paulies v. Egineta feemeth to be the firft that made trial! of the purging facultie of Rubarb ■ 
rr in his firft booke,Chap.4j . he rnaketh mention thereof, where he reckoneth vp Turpentine a- 
iong_ thofe medicines which make the bodies of fuch as are in health foluble : But when we pur- 
ple, faith he, to make the turpentine more ftrong, weadde vnto it a little Rubarb. The Arabians 
hat followed him brought it to a further vfe in phyficke, as chiefely purging downward cho'ler, 
nd oftentimes flegme. 
The purgationwhich is made with Rubalrb is profitable and fit for all fuch as be troubled with’ p 
holer, and for thofe that are licke of lharpe and tertian feuers, or haue the yellow jaundice, or bad 
iuers. 
It is a good medicine againft thepleurifie, inflammation oftbe lungs, the fquinancieor Squin- p 
ie, madnefie, frenfie, inflammation of the kidnies, bladder, and all the inward parts, and cfpecial- 
y againft S. Anthonies fire, as well outwardly as inwardly taken. 
Rubarb is vndoubtedly an efpeciall good medicine for the liuer and infirmities of the gall ; for G 
;fides that it purgeth forth cholericke and naughty humors, it remoueth ftoppings out of the 
bnduits. 
Italfo mightily ftrengthneth the intrals themfelues : infomuch as Rubarb is iuftly termed of H 
iuers tbe life of the liuer ; for Galen in his eleuenth booke of the method or manner of curing, af- 
rmeth that fuch kinde of medicines are rnoft fit and profitable for the liuer, as haue ioyned with 
purging and opening qualitie an aftringent or binding power. The quantitic that is to be giuen 
'from one dram to tvyo ; and the infufion from one and a halfe to three. 
It is giuen or fteeped, and that in hot difeafes, with the infufion or diftilled water of Succory, I 
ndiue,or fome other of the like nature ; and likewife irrWhay •, and if there be noheate it may 
: giuen in Wine. 
It 
