OFFICINAL RHUBARB. 123 
much tanned by the scorching rays of the sun, cut off 
the outer shell of the nut, and rub the oil upon their 
faces as a cosmetic. The immediate consequences of 
this extraordinary operation are swelling and blackness 
of the parte; and, in five or six days, the whole skin 
peels off, leaving the face so sore and tender, that it is 
impossible for the person using it to appear abroad in 
less than a fortnight ; by which time the new skin is suf- 
ficiently hardened, and is as fair as that of a newly-born 
infant. There are, however, few British females who 
would consent to be thus flayed alive for the sake of 
rendering themselves fair. This oil tinges linen a per- 
manent rusty iron colour. 
From the Cashew nut tree a milky juice is obtained, 
by tapping or incision, which stains, of a deep black 
colour, whatever it touches. The fine black varnish so 
much used in China and Japan is the resinous juice of 
a tree called fsi-chu, which is conjectured to be the 
cashew nut tree. 
TRIGYNIA. 
134. The TRUE or OFFICINAL RHUBARB (Rheum 
palmatum) is a medicinal root which grows zvild in various 
parts of Asia. 
The leaves which issue from this root are large, and deeply 
cut into lobes ; and the whole plant has a general resemblance 
to what in our country are* called docks. The stem is erect and 
six or seven feet high. The leaves stand on footstalks, that are 
somewhat grooved above, and rounded at the edge. Those which 
proceed from the stalk supply at the joints a kind of membraneous 
sheaths. The flowers terminate the branches in clusters. 
The importance and the properties of this root in 
medicine are universally known. Rhubarb is usually 
imported from Turkey, but it is occasionally also 
brought from Russia, China, and the East Indies. Dr. 
Woodville states that the Turkey rhubarb is brought 
over in oblong pieces,, flattish on one side, and rounded 
on the other ; and that it is compact, hard, heavy, and 
internally of a dull colour, variegated with yellow and 
