¶ The Vertues.
Rubarb is commended by Dioscorides a∣gainst [ A] windinesse, weaknesse of the stomack, and all griefes thereof, convulsions, diseafes of the spleene, liuer, and kidnies, gripings and inward gnawings of the guts, insirmities of the bladder and chest, swelling about the heart, diseases of the matrix, paine in the huckle bones, spitting of bloud, shortnesse of breath, yexing, or the hicket, the bloudie flix, the laske proceeding of raw humors, fits in Agues, and against the bitings of veno∣mous beasts.
Moreouer he saith, that it taketh away [ B] blacke and blew spots, and tetters or Ring∣wormes, if it be mixed with vineger, and the place anointed therewith.
Galen affirmes it to be good for burstings, [ C] cramps, and convulsions, and for those that are short winded, and that spit bloud.
But touching the purging facultie nei∣ther [ D] Dioscorides nor Galen hath written any thing, because it was not vsed in those daies to purge with. Galen held opinion, that the thinne airious parts doe make the binding qualitie of more force; not because it doth resist the cold and earthy substance, but by reason that it carrieth the same, and maketh it deeply to pierce, and thereby to worke the greater effect; the dry and thinne essence containing in it selfe a purging force and qualitie to open obstructions, but helped and made more facile by the subtil and airious parts. Paulus Aegineta seemeth to be the first that made triall of the purging facultie of Rubarb; for in his first booke, Chap. 43. he maketh mention thereof, where he reckoneth vp Turpentine a∣mong those medicines which make the bodies of such as are in health soluble: But when we pur∣pose, saith he, to make the turpentine more strong, we adde vnto it a little Rubarb. The Arabians that followed him brought it to a further vse in physicke, as chiefely purging downward choler, and oftentimes flegme.
The purgation which is made with Rubarb is profitable and fit for all such as be troubled with [ E] choler, and for those that are sicke of sharpe and tertian feuers, or haue the yellow jaundice, or bad liuers.
It is a good medicine against the pleurisie, inflammation of the lungs, the squinancie or Squin∣cie, [ F] madnesse, frensie, inflammation of the kidnies, bladder, and all the inward parts, and especial∣ly against S. Anthonies fire, as well outwardly as inwardly taken.
Rubarb is vndoubtedly an especiall good medicine for the liuer and infirmities of the gall; for [ G] besides that it purgeth forth cholericke and naughty humors, it remoueth stoppings out of the conduits.
It also mightily strengthneth the intrals themselues: insomuch as Rubarb is iustly termed of [ H] diuers the life of the liuer; for Galen in his eleuenth booke of the method or manner of curing, af∣firmeth that such kinde of medicines are most fit and profitable for the liuer, as haue ioyned with a purging and opening qualitie an astringent or binding power. The quantitie that is to be giuen is from one dram to two; and the infusion from one and a halfe to three.
It is giuen or steeped, and that in hot diseases, with the infusion or distilled water of Succory, [ I] Endiue, or some other of the like nature; and likewise in Whay; and if there be no heate it may be giuen in Wine.