Pharmacopoeia Edinburgensis: or, the dispensatory of the Royal College of Physicians in Edinburgh / Translated and improved from the third edition of the Latin. And illustrated with notes by Peter Shaw.

  • Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh
Date:
1740
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Pharmacopoeia Edinburgensis: or, the dispensatory of the Royal College of Physicians in Edinburgh / Translated and improved from the third edition of the Latin. And illustrated with notes by Peter Shaw. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    Rhamnus catharticus [Spina Cervina] Buck¬ thorn. Its Berries. Rhaponticum, Rhapontic. The Root. Rhodium [A/palathus cdore rofeo] Rhodium. The Wood. Ribefia, Currant-Tree. The Fruit Rofa only in Ferfia. 'This is certain, that Rhubarb was un¬ known to the antients; and their Rhapontic, which came tolerably near it, was not really the fame therewith. The true Rhubarb firft puts out large downy leaves, then fmall carnation flowers in the form of fiars, and after this comes the feed. The root newly drawn from the earth is thick, fibrous, and blackifh on the furface, and of a red marble colour within; when dried, it changes colour, and be¬ comes yellow without, and of a nutmeg colour within. It ought to be chole new, in fmall compact pieces pretty folid and ponderous, of an altringent tafte, fomewhat bit¬ ter, and of an agreeable aromatic odour. When good, it will tin^e water almoff like Saffron : and when broke, it appears of a lively colour, inclining a little to vermilion. Some druggifts have the art of recovering their decay’d Rhubarb, by giving it a yellow tincture; but the cheat is eafily difeovered by handling it: for the yellow powder made ufe of to do it, will thus (tick to the fingers. Rhapontic is often mix’d with Rhubarb, and-fent over from the Levant; but this impofition alfo may be difeovered, becaufe Rhu¬ barb is ordinarily in pieces, almoft round, the internal grain or lines whereof are tranfverfe ; whereas Rhapontic is in long pieces, the internal lines whereof, which are red- difh, growing longitudinally: and befides, Rhubarb, upon chewing it, leaves no clamminefs in the mouth as Rhapon-^ tic does. Rut the Rhapontic of the Levarit being fcarce. Monks Rhubarb is fometimes fubftituted for it; but the skil¬ ful know how to diftinguiih between them ; for the Rha¬ pontic of the Levant is yellow without, and of a marble red within ; whilft Monks Rhubarb is black and rough on the outfide, and yellow on the inner, without any marble co* lour at all. Didtion. de Commerce;
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