NOTICES OF SOME RARE KINDS OF RHUBARB. 69 
it was obtained from R. Webbianum. The former appears 
to rne to agree best with the imported Himalayan rhubarb ; 
indeed, one or two of the pieces of the latter, strongly re- 
semble the sample which I have received from Dr. Wallich. 
I have reason to believe that the present is the first ship- 
ment of Himalayan rhubarb ever made to this country, 
and I suspect that the discouraging result will prevent, for 
the present at least, any further attempts to introduce it — 
its quality being very inferior, and unfitted for the English 
market." 
The pieces of it vary considerably in size and shape ; 
some are twisted, cylindrical, furrowed pieces, cut oblique- 
ly at the extremities, about four inches long, and an inch 
and a half in diameter. Others are circular disks, about 
three inches in diameter, two inches thick, and weighing 
about four ounces each. Besides these, semi-cylindrical^ 
angular and other-shaped pieces are met with ; and are ob- 
viously obtained by slicing the root. Some of the pieces 
are decorticated, while others are coated. The general 
colour is dark brown ; the prominent decorticated and paler 
parts having an ochre brown tint. It has a feeble rhubarb 
odour, and a bitter astringent taste. When broken, it does 
not present the marbled texture characteristic of ordinary 
rhubarb. By chewing it, little or no grittinessis perceived. 
It is exceedingly light, and is rendered much more so than 
it probably is in its perfect form, by the porosity which it 
has acquired from being worm-eaten.— Pharm. Jour, 
