EXAMINATION FOR CHEMISTS IN BUSINESS. 
379 
dicinal use. Any real differences in tlie descriptions are easily accounted 
for on the latter supposition. The contradictions, however, are more appa¬ 
rent than real. According to Kung the root is red, while Su-sung says that 
it is covered with a black skin, which is taken off. The black skin consists, 
as any one may see by examining the root of liheum palmatum in the winter, 
of the blank decayed bases of the sheathing petioles, which cover the rhizome, 
so that its red colour is not apparent until these are removed. The difference 
in the height of the plant and the colour of the leaves probably depends on 
age or locality. The most important feature in the description is the state¬ 
ment of Su-sung, that the leaves of the Shen-si rhubarb plant resemble those 
of Ricinus communis, the only known species of Rheum whose leaves admit of 
this comparison being R. palmatum. Su-sung particularizes the leaves of the 
Shen-si rhubarb, as if this was different from the Sz-chuen plant. Possibly 
he was only acquainted with the Shen-si plant, and therefore spoke cau¬ 
tiously. There appears, however, to be another species of rhubarb, which 
Ivung calls the Yang-ti plant. This is said to be often mistaken for the or¬ 
dinary rhubarb plant, on account of its resemblance to it; but Li-shi-chen 
affirms that it is a distinct species. It is, probably, also a species of Rheum , 
whose root, though known in the market as Yang-ti rhubarb, is smaller ancl 
of inferior quality, and therefore not called rhubarb by first-class dealers. 
Yang-ti rhubarb means sheep’s-feet rhubarb, and is so called from a fancied 
resemblance to the feet of the sheep, as the Sz-chuen rhubarb is called, 
doubtless also from its shape and size, hoof or horse-hoof rhubarb. The 
Tu-ta-kwang or local, i. e. inferior rhubarb mentioned by Su-sung, which 
flowers two months earlier than the palmate-leaved rhubarb of Shen-si, may 
be a third species. There are a few characters which do not correspond with 
R. palmatum , or indeed with any of our cultivated species. The resemblance 
of the root to a basin is far from obvious, and the so-called seed or nut is usually 
a rusty-brown rather than black. The objection to R. joalmatum being the * 
source, or a source, of the officinal rhubarb has, I believe, been chiefiy 
founded on the statement of Pallas that this species appeared to be quite un¬ 
known to the Bucharians, and that their description corresponded most nearly 
with R. compactum, the seeds of which were sent to Miller from St. Peters¬ 
burg as the true Tartarian rhubarb. But still less has hitherto been known 
of the rhubarb which grows in China itself; and I think I have now shown 
equally good reason for believing that the best kind of Chinese rhubarb— 
namely, the produce of Shen-si, and probably also of Sz-chuen—is R . 'pal¬ 
matum, which, notwithstanding all that has been said against it, has always 
been considered to approach most nearly to Asiatic rhubarb. Kung, who 
does not mention any locality, but compares the rhubarb to the Yang-ti 
plant, says that the stalk is crisp and sour, and may be chewed raw. Rheum 
palmatum is not cultivated in England for culinary use ; but Mr. Itobin- 
son, of the Botanic Gardens, llegent’s Park, informs me that he has seen it 
so used in Ireland. 
EXAMINATIONS BOB CHEMISTS IN BUSINESS. 
TO THE EDITOR OF THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL. 
Sir,—I am sure the Council always look with pleasure upon the result of their 
efforts to afford their brethren already in business an opportunity of joining the 
Pharmaceutical Society. The examinations have been attended by many 
from various parts of the kingdom, who have found that the requirements 
were such as men in business, who were really acquainted with it, could 
