460

HHB

0

to check inordinate discharges, see Decoctum Quercus. Oak bark is some-times administered in the form of powder, combined with ginger andother aromatics, and bilters, for the cure of mtermittents, and it has fre-quently succeeded, but see page 171. Dose, 3j to 3ss. In the formof poultice thN powder is said to have proved highly useful to gangrenoussores. Its inhalation has also been supposed to prove beneficial in con-sumption ; a striking case is related by Dr Eberle of a man who had la-boured under the usual symptoms of confirmed Phthisis, and who, at thetime he went to grind in a bark-mill, was exiremely weak and emaciated ;in a short time, however, tb ■ cough, night sweats, and other hectic symp-toms, began to abate sensibly, and in less than three months he was per-fectly restored to health.

KHE1 RADIX. L.E.D. Rliubarb*

Two varieties of this root are known in the shops, viz. Turkey or Rus-sian, and East Indian or Chivtse.

1. Turkey or Russian. (Rheum Palmatum.)

Qualities. Form, small round pieces, rather compact and heavy,perforated in the middle ; Colour, lively yellow with streaks of white ;it is easily pulverized, affording a powder of a bright buff yellow colour.Chimical Composition. Gum, resin, extractive, tannin, gallic acid, anda peculiar colouring matter, with traces of alumina and silex ; the whiteor flesh-coloured streaks pervading its substance, consist of sulphate andoxalate of lime : according to (he experiments of Mr. John Henderson,there is besides a peculiar vegetable acid, fo which he has giventhe name of Rkeumic acid, but M. de Lass;>ignes has satisfactorilyproved that this is no other than the oxalic acid : the purgative pow-ers of the root appear to be intimately connected with its extractiveand resinous elements, but the sulject is still involved in considerableobscurity. Solubility. Water 2 :2° takes up 24 part* in 60, see In-fusum Rhei: by decoction, its purgative qualities are lost, and it becomesmore bitter and astringent ; alcohol extracts 2-7 from 10 parts, (seeTincl. Rhei ) Med. Uses. In this substance, Nature presents us with asingular and most important combination of medicinal powers, that of anastringent, with a cathartic property ; the former of which never opposesor interferes with the energy of the latter, since it only takes effect whenthe substance is administered in small doses; or if given in larger ones,not until it has ceased to operate as a cathartic ; this latter circumstancerenders it particularly eligible in cases of diarrhoea, as it evacuates theoffending matter before it operates as an astringent upon the bowels. Itseems to act more immediately upon the stomach and small intestines,and therefore in relaxed and debilitated states of these organs, it willprove an easy and valuable resource ; it may, for such an object, be ex-hibited in conjunction with alkalies, bitters, and other tonics Its cathar-tic property is most efficient when given in substance. It was formerlysupposed that by toasting thubaib we increased its astnngency, but this

* Warner's Cordial. Rhubarb bruised ^j ; Sennae ?ss; Saffron 3j; Pow-dered Liquorice 3.V ; Raisins pounded lbj ; Brandy onj; digest /or a week andstrain.

Moseley's Pills. The stomachic Pi Us which are sold nrjcler thisnaoie, consistmerelv of Rhubarb and Ginger.