16 Dr. PuuTENEY's Gbfervations on tbe 
The Ranunculi give out this quality wholly in diftillation: the 
water of the R. /eeleratus, by the experiments of Tilebein, as recorded 
in the fecond volume of the Chemical Annals, is acrimonious in an in- 
tenfe degree, and, when cold, depofits cryftals which are fcarcely fo- 
: Juble in any menftruum, and are of an inflammable nature*. The 
diftilled water of the R. Flammula, or Leffer Spearwort, as we are in- 
formed by Dr. Withering, is an emetic more inftantaneous, and lefs 
offenfive during its action, than white vitriol; and, as if Nature had 
furnifhed an antidote to poifon from among poifons of its own 
tribe, is to be preferred in promoting the inftant expulfion of dele- 
terious fubftances from the ftomach. * 
Tn the experiments of the Pan Suecus, even in the improved edition 
by Schreber, after the obfervations and renewed trials of Kalm,Gadd, 
Bergius, and Laftbohm, made upon horned cattle, goats, fheep, 
horfes and fwine, all the fpecies of Ranunculi, with which trials were 
| made, except the R. auricomus, were rejected by the horned cattle; and 
itis well known, that while our meadows and paftures are eaten bare 
of other vegetables, the R. acris, and R. bulbofus, which are but too. 
plentiful, are left untouched: neither do cattle willingly eat the R, re 
. pens, although it is not wholly rejected by horfes, fheep, and goats. 
- The R. Flammula, according to the above experiments, was eaten 
only by horfes, to which animal it is t sere faid to be very grateful ; 
whereas the R. auricomus,eatenbyall the reft, (except that {wine choofe | 
only the roots,) was rejected by horfes. The R. /celeratus, which is- 
fuppofed to be the Herba Sardonia of Diofcorides, was touched by 
goats alone; the R. bulbo/us only by the latter, though itis well known ` 
in England that hogs are fond of the roots. The R. acris was eaten 
by fheep and goats; but the R. aquatilis is recorded as the only one re- 
* Page 313. cate 
7 ! | jected 
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