Rue; a genus of plants belonging to the dendraria clasps; and in the natural method ranking under the 26th order, Multifilique. See Botany Index.

Rue has a strong ungrateful smell, and a bitterish penetrating taste: the leaves, when full of vigour, are extremely acrid, insomuch as to inflame and blister the skin, if much handled. With regard to their medicinal virtues, they are powerfully stimulating, attenuating, and detergent; and hence, in cold phlegmatic habits, they quicken the circulation, dissolve tenacious juices, open obstructions of the excretory glands, and promote the fluid secretions. The writers on the materia medica in general have entertained a very high opinion of the virtues of this plant. Boerhaave is full of its praises; particularly of the essential oil, and the distilled water cohabitated or re-distilled several times from fresh parcels of the herb. After extravagantly commending other waters prepared in this manner, he adds, with regard to that of rue, that the greatest commendations he can bestow upon it fall short of its merit: "What medicine (says he) can be more efficacious for promoting sweat and perspiration, for the cure of the hysterical passion and of epilepsies, and for expelling poison?" Whatever service rue may be of in the two last cases, it undoubtedly has its use in the others: the cohabited water, however, is not the most efficacious preparation of it. An extract made by rectified spirit contains in a small compass the whole virtues of the rue; this menstrum taking up by infusion all the pungency and flavour of the plant, and elevating nothing in distillation. With water, its peculiar flavour and warmth arise; the bitterness, and a considerable share of the pungency, remaining behind.

Ruta Boga, or Swedish turnip. For the mode of cultivation, see Agriculture Index.

Book of RUTH, a canonical book of the Old Testament; being a kind of appendix to the book of Judges, and an introduction to that of Samuel; and having its title from the person whose story is here principally related. In this story are observable the ancient rights of kindred and redemption; and the manner of buying the inheritance of the deceased, with other particulars of great note and antiquity. The canonicalness of this book was never disputed; but the learned are not agreed about the epocha of the history it relates. Ruth the Moabitess is found in the genealogy of our Saviour. Matth. i. 5.