Portions unusually white are occasionally found in tho chests of Russian rhubarb, and are presumed to be specimens of imperial rhubarb • nothing certain is known of its origin or relative value, but is it assigned to Pallas, It. annum, Sievers, Rheum totarieuns, Linn.
2. Dutch-trimmed rhubarb, called also by some writers Persian rhubarb, and Batavian, occurs in flat or round pieces, and is not much different in appearance from the preceding, but it reaches Europe through Canton and Singapore. It is said to be very liable to the attacks of a small coleopterans Insect, Armlike; boleti, and that the holes so made are stopped with yellow ochre.
3. Chinese or East Indian rhubarb, termed in commerce half trimmed or untrimmed rhubarb, rarely presents an angular character, but occurs in round' or flats. • The best pieces are heavier and more compact than those of the Russian kind, and the odour Is much less powerful and less aromatic." 4. Himalayan rhubarb Is not known as a commercial article in this country, nor is it even an article of large consumption in India, where it sells for only one-tenth of the best rhubarb, resembling in quality the Ituasian, and which is found in India. The finest Russian rhubarb might be introduce! and cultivated in the territories of the East India Company, or, OA Dr. Hoyle observes, • a trade in rhubarb with Tibet or W Totem Mongolia might bo established by means of the Tartars who resort to the hill fairs. This trade might easily be encouraged by the government purchasing all the rhubarb it requires, which might thus be employed for hospital use after crossing the frontiers, instead of, as now, after making a journey of 20,000 miles, or nearly tho circuit of the globe." (' Flora of the Himalaya?) 5. English rhubarb occurs in two states, "dressed or trimmed, so as to resemble the Russian kind, and stick The first is grown at lianbury in Oxfordshire, and is frequently used for the show-bottles in druggists' windows, and often sold in the streets of London for 7'arkey rhubarb, by persona dressed up as Turks. Stick rhubarb is sold in the herb shops, and is in long pieces." 6. French rhubarb le not brought into this country.
What is termed Moors rhubarb is not the produce of any species of rheum, but of the Ramer alpiorts, which grows in Switzerland, Ger many, and Mount Taurus, and is more astringent than purgative : it is mostly used by the monks of the Alps, or to adulterate the other sorts.
Large importations of rhubarb are made into this country, partly from Russia, but much more from the East Indies ; but the greater part is for re-exportation. The quantity retained for home consump tion scarcely constitutes one-fourth of the entire amount.
Rhubarb present. the peculiarity of producing two opposite effects, according to the dose exhibited. In small dome it is tonic and astringent, in large doses purgative, but generally followed by con stipation. It is moreover somewhat heating, and therefore unfit for the early stage of inflammatory diseases ; on the other hand, its tonic properties render it eminently proper in the later stages of these diseases. In debility of the digestive organs, alone, or better in con junction with other it is a most valuable remedy ; but it is very improper in the form of powder for very young children, as the insoluble woody fibre irritates their delicato stomachs, and contributes to produce that state of irritation under which so many young children sink who are overdosed with domestic medicines. Dr. Reid, from large experience at a public dispensary, stated it as his deliberate opinion, that half the children which died in London under two years of age were killed by mothers and nurses dosing them with rhubarb and A more rational proceeding is to regulate the diet of tender infants, especially of such as are not Buckled by the mother or a wet nurse ; above all, to avoid giving them stimulating drinks or raw fruits. Where any form of gentle aperient and antacid is really necessary for children or infants, an infusion of rhubarb made with cold water, to which carbonate of soda is added, answers well. Compound rhubarb pill, a vary commonly-used aperient, is hurtful to persons prone to suffer from piles. But an unobjectionable and very mildly acting aperient pill can be made with equal parts of extract of rhubarb, extract ofjahm, and extract of taraxacum, with a very little jahipina, and some drops of any volatile oil, such as dill, carraway, or cloves.