Rhubarb
The Wondrous Drug
Clifford M. Foust(Author)
Princeton University Press
Published on 10. March 1992
Book
Hardback
406 pages
978-0-691-08747-4 (ISBN)
Description
An Asian plant with mysterious cathartic powers, medicinal rhubarb spurned European trade expeditions and obsessive scientific inquiry from the Renaissance until the 20th century. Rarely, however, had there been a plant that so thoroughly frustrated Europeans' efforts to acquire it and to master its special botanical and chemical properties. This study traces the efforts of the explorers, traders, botanists, gardeners, physicians and pharmacists who tried to adapt rhubarb for convenient use in Europe. The history includes sections on the geographic and economic importance of rhubarb, which explain how the plant became a major state monopoloy for Russia and an important commodity for the East India companies. There is also a discussion of rhubarb's emergence as an international culinary craze during the 19th and 20th centuries.
Reviews / Votes
"Winner of the Edward Kremers Award, American Institute of the History of Pharmacy" "Foust has written an interesting book, long on commercial and botanical detail.... Provides a clear view of another building-block in the emergence of the modern world." * The Times Literary Supplement *More details
Series
Language
English
Place of publication
New Jersey
United States
Target group
College/higher education
Professional and scholarly
Product notice
Trade binding
Weight
794 gr
ISBN-13
978-0-691-08747-4 (9780691087474)
Copyright in bibliographic data is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or its licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Additional editions

E-Book
07/2014
1st Edition
Princeton University Press
€88.99
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