Page:Willich, A. F. M. - The Domestic Encyclopædia (Vol. 3, 1802).djvu/518

490&#93; 49o] Pv H if ioo speedily, they will contra (.9: into "N^rinkles, and, if too slowly, they become mouldy, and unfit for use. Lastly, a hole is perforated in the middle, and the roots are sus- pended on packthrea;! to dry, so that none of the pieces come in contact with each other. The rhubarb, hitherto employed in medicine, is imported from Tuikey,- Russia, China, and the East Indies. The first sort is brought in roundish pieces, perfo- rated in the centre; and which are externally of a yellow colour j but, on being cut, they appear varie- gated with bright-reddish streaks. The Chinese drug is imported in long piece's, which are harder and more con)pa6t than the Turkey Ehubarb ; the former, possessing a weaker aromatic flavour, is less esteemed ; though, being more as- tringent, it is, for some purposes at least, equal to the latter. Rhubarb is justly prized as a mild cathartic, and may be safely administered to children, invalids, and delicate women, in doses of from 10 to 20 grains, though, in irritable, hysterical, and phthisi- cal habits, It is apt to occasion gripes, ajid to aggravate febrile symptoms : hence it ought never to be given in the first stage of dysentery, when this invaluable remedy, by premature use, may occasion the most violent pain and inflammation of the bowels ; but, after the fever Is suppressed, and the disease becomes a chronic tliarrhcpa, ^mall doses of rhubarb will be attended with the best ef- ffcfts. As, however, this medici- nal root has a tendency to occasion obstrui^iions of the intestines after copious evacuations, it will. In most cases, be proper to combine it wi'lh cooling salts, in order to KUV prevent costiveness : thus, 6graJrlif of the former, and one dram of either Glauber s salt, or cream of tartar, in a combined state, may be taken with advantage in tiie evening, and a similar dose in the morning. In short, rhubarb is the only purgative we possess, that is at the same time mildly astringent, di'.iretic, and does not relax the "first passages. Beingian article of such import- ance in medicine, large quantities of this root are annually imported, to the amount of 200,0001. ; which sum might easily be saved to the Nation : — various attempts have, therefore, been successfully made to introduce its culture into Bri- tam. With this intention, the pa- triotic Society for the Encourage- ment of Arts, &c. have, for several years, distributed premiums for the cultivation and curing of the largest quantity of rhubarb. The success- ful candidates were. Sir William FoKDYCE, on whom they confer- red a gold medal In 1784; Mr. Thomas Jones, whom they re- warded with a similar premium In 1/03, and with the farther sums of 30 guineas in 1/98, and 1800; Mr. Hayward, on whom they conferred their gold medal In 1794 J Mr. Ball, to whom they adjudged a similar reward in the same year, and a second in 1795; Mr. Ro- EEKT Davis, and the Rev, James Stillingfleet, on whom they severally bestowed gold medals in 179& and lyg'J, ior their respec- tive exertions in cultivating and curing the true rhubarb. Tiielv methods of management corre- spond, with a few exceptions, to that above stated ; and it ap- ])ears from authentic accounts, that sufficient quantities of thia valuable drug may be ■ reared in