F. LEVISON, Copenhagen.
RHUBARB.—Rhubarb, or rheum (U. S. P.), is the root of Rheum officinale and of other undetermined species of Rheum (nat. ord., Polygonacece): a plant indigenous to Asia (China, India, Tar tary, and 'Tibet), but which is cultivated in America and elsewhere. It contains extractive, sugar, starch, pectin, lignin, salts, several unimportant alkaloids, a glucoside, and acids, one of which, chry sophanic acid is used in medicine. In commerce two sorts are recognized,—the Chinese and the European,—the former of which is considered the better. It oc curs in irregular cylindrical or conical, flattened pieces, which are generally per forated, are covered with a light-yellow ish-brown powder, and have frequently a wrinkled surface. Beneath the powder the color of the root is reddish brown, mottled with lighter hues. The root is dense and hard and has a bitter and somewhat astringent taste and a pecul iar aromatic odor. When chewed, the root is gritty (due to the presence of crystals of calcium oxalate), and imparts a yellow color to the saliva. European rhubarb is inferior to the Chinese variety; powdered rhubarb is also inferior, and, if not adulterated, at least is generally made up of inferior, damaged, worthless, or worm-eaten material.
Preparations and Doses.—Rheum, U. S. P. (the root), 5 to 30 grains.
Extractum rhei (U. S. P.), 5 to 15 grains.
Extractum rhei fluidum (U. S. P.), to 1 drachm.
Mistura rhei et sodw, U. S. P. (fluid extract of rhubarb, 15; fluid extract of ipecac, 3; bicarbonate of soda, 35; glyc erin, 350; spirit of peppermint, 35; water, sufficient to make 1000 parts), to 2 ounces.
rhei, U. S. P. (rhubarb, 3 grains), 1 to 5 pills.
Pilulae rhei composite, U. S. P. (rhu barb, 2 grains; aloes, 1 grains; myrrh, 1 grain), 1 to 3 pills.
Pulvis rhei compositus, U. S. P. (Greg ory's powder: rhubarb, 25; magnesia, 65; ginger, 10 parts), 1 to 3 drachms.
Syrupus rhei, G. S. P. (fluid extract of rhubarb, 10 per cent.), 2 to 6 drachms.
Syrupus rhei aromaticus, U. S. P. (aromatic tincture of rhubarb, 15 per cent.), 2 to 6 drachms.
Tinctura rhei (U. S. P.), 1 to 4 drachms.
Tinctura rhei aromatics (U. S. P.), to 3 drachms.
Tinctura rhei dulcis (U. S. P.), 1 to 2 drachms.
Poisoning by Rhubarb.—Rhubarb is not generally considered poisonous, but a case has been reported in which the internal administration of rhubarb gave rise to an hmmorrhagic eruption of mac ules, pustules, and blebs. The mucous membranes were also affected, and free haemorrhage from the urethra occurred.
Therapeutics.—Rhubarb is an excel lent stomachic tonic in atonic dyspepsia associated with deficient biliary and in testinal secretion. It is a remedy espe cially adapted to those of relaxed habit, but inadmissible when an hyperaemia of the mucous membrane exists (Bar tholow).
Rhubarb is a valuable remedy in sim ple constipation, where we wish to un load the bowels without affecting the general system. The root is often chewed by adults to relieve constipation. In children the syrup is a palatable prep aration for this purpose; the pill or compound pill may be used by adults.
Constipation and de pending upon pregnancy are benefited by the administration of rhubarb.
Syrup of rhubarb precipitates ergotine, no matter by what process the ergotine has been prepared. This is owed to the tannin contained in the rhubarb. Edi torial (Jour. de Pharm. d'Anvers; Setti mana Med., Mar. 25, '99).
In the summer diarrhoea of children, with green stools, the aromatic syrup of rhubarb may be employed to empty the bowel of its fermenting contents before direct treatment. The diarrhoea .0 0 of indigestion in children and adults is relieved by the aromatic syrup or by the mixture of rhubarb and soda.
In children when constipation is re placed by diarrhoea if any ordinary laxa tive is used, rhubarb is an available rem edy on account of its secondary astrin gent action.
Functional disturbance of the liver with deficient biliary secretion is relieved by the administration of rhubarb, either alone or, better, combined with blue mass.