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heat; and the plant on being thoroughly dried, becomes perfealy 
bland. - | 
Krapf attempted to counteract this venomous acrimony of the 
Ranunculus by means of various other vegetables, none of which 
was found to anfwer the purpofe, though he thought that the Juice 
of forrel, and that of unripe currants, had fome effeé in this way}; 
yet thefe were much lefs availing than water; while vinegar, honey, 
fugar, wine, fpirit, mineral acids, oil of tartar, p. d. and other fapid 
fubftances manifeftly rendered the acrimony more corrofive, It may 
be alfo noticed, that the virulency of this plant, as well as of moit 
others, depends much upon the fituation in which they grow, and 
is greatly diminifhed in the cultivated plant. 
This and fome other fpecies of Ranunculus have, for medical pur- 
pofes, been chiefly employed externally as a veficatory, and are faid 
to have the advantage of a common bliftering plafter, in producing a 
quicker effe&t, and never caufing ftranguary. But, on the other hand, 
it has been obferved, that the Ranunculus is lefs certain in its opera- 
tion, ‘and that it fometimes occafions ulcers, which prove very 
troublefome and difficult to heal. Therefore their ufe feems to be 
applicable only to certain fixed pains,” and fuch complaints as tequire 
a long continued topical ftimulus, or difcharge from the part, in the 
way of an iffue, which in various cafes has been found to be a 
‘powerful remedy. _ 
b Cafes of its fuccefs in Pe rheumatifm,. and other complaints, are related by 
~Chefnau (ob. med). Bagliy. (oper. p. 113), "Stoerck (ann, mets ii. i sou. 
__ ‘The manner of ufing the plant is to bruife it in a- mort ly it to the 
fkin as a poultice or sinter: PSS ee. ~ ans E : ey , 
-PAONIA 
