Am.  Jour.  Pharm. ) 
Sept.,  1880.  / 
Spurious  Gums, 
449 
the  market  as  of  the  Persian  product,  while  the  so-called  "  Turkey 
rhubarb"  is  supplied  by  the  Chinese,  and  is  considered  the  best  root. 
The  exact  species  which  yield  the  rhubarb  of  commerce  do  not  seem 
to  be  known  so  far.  The  following  species  were  noticed  by  the  author 
on  the  side  of  the  Himalaya  towards  India  and  in  Tibet : 
1.  Rheum  emodi^  Wallich,  a  large  plant,  having  a  thick  stem,  growing 
from  Bhutan  and  Sikkim  to  Kaschmia  on  the  India  side  of  the  Himalaya, 
frequently  reaching  a  height  of  more  than  six  feet,  and  also  indigenous 
to  Western  Tibet,  but  less  abundant.  In  most  districts  of  north- 
eastern and  central  dry  High  Asia  its  efficacy  is  greatly  praised,  while 
in  the  damp  and  warm  districts  of  Sikkim  and  Bhutan  the  root  seems 
to  be  inefficacious.  The  whole  sour  stems  are  eaten  both  stewed  and 
raw,  while  the  leaves  are  dried  and  smoked  in  Tibet  and  in  the  Eastern 
Himalaya. 
2.  Rheum  leucorrhizum ,  Poll.  [Rh.  tartar'icum^  L.)  During  the  period 
of  infloresence  it  is  usually  two  inches  (Engl.)  high,  then  gradually 
grows  to  a  height  of  one  foot.  It  grows  plentifully  in  the  dry  districts^ 
The  root  is  said  to  be  very  efficacious,  and  the  leaves  are  also  smoked. 
The  following  species  were  met  with  less  frequently  : 
3.  Rheum  wehhianum^  Royle,  is  indigenous  to  the  vicinity  of  Simla 
at  an  elevation  of  more  than  12,000  feet,  and  is  also  found  in  Kumaou,, 
principally  in  the  passes  over  the  Niti  Ghat  towards  Gnari  Khorsum. 
4.  Rheum  moorcroftianum,  Royle,  is  indigenous  to  Kumaou  and 
Gurhval  at  an  elevation  of  12,000  feet  ;  this  species  has  very  small 
stems. 
5.  Rheum  spiciforme^  Royle.  The  root  of  this  species  is  lighter  and 
harder  than  usual,  while  the  leaves  are  thick  and  tough.  It  is  indi- 
genous to  Northwestern  Tibet. 
NOTE   ON    SOME    "SPURIOUS    GUMS"  IMPORTED 
WITH  MYRRH.' 
By  R.  H.  Parker. 
Last  year  I  had  the  opportunity  of  selecting  from  several  bales  of 
unpicked  myrrh  a  considerable  quantity  of  numerous  kinds  of  "spurious 
gums,"  to  which  I  briefly  referred  in  a  paper^  previously  read  before  this 
Association,  and  I  propose  submitting  to  you  as  a  sequel  to  that  paper 
1  Read  before  the  School  of  Pharmacy  Students'  Association,  July  8,  1880. 
"  Pharm.  Journ.,"  [3],  x.,  p.  81. 
29 
