46 ILLUSTRATIONS OF THE BOTANY OF (Ranunculaceae. 
acrid principle in each species, it is found that they act either on the system generally, 
or in different degrees on particular organs. Thus several species of Ranunculus are 
used as rubefacients and vesicatories; while the roots of Zanthorhiza, Coptis, and 
Hydrastis, as tonics ; and those of Thalictrum majus as a substitute for rhubarb. Hellebore 
has long been known as a powerful cathartic, and Aconite as a no less powerful narcotic 
and poison ;. while some from the destructibleness of their noxious property by water 
have been used as food. The Mahomedan physicians in India having derived their 
knowledge of drugs chiefly from. Arabian authors, who. translated from the Greek, 
it is not surprising to find such articles as Hellebore, Paony, Lycoctonum, and. Stavesacre, 
all of which as well as others might be grown in the Himalayas, prescribed in every 
part of India, though the druggists, calculating upon the ignorance of both practitioners 
and patients respecting the true drug, generally substitute some which they consider 
an equivalent. Yet it is interesting to observe, that independent observation has intro- 
duced into Indian practice several drugs from this family, to which the same properties 
are ascribed as in Europe. Thus Ranunculus sceleratus is used as a vesicatory. The 
roots of Thalictrum foliolosum as a bitter in the cure of fevers—those of Aconitum 
heterophyllumas a tonic, and of Aconitum feror, though a poison, as a narcotic in rheuma- 
tism. Nigella sativa is alone cultivated in India, as in most Eastern countries, and 
continues in the present day, as in the most ancient times, to be used both as a condi- 
ment and a medicine. 
The celebrated Indian poison called Bish or Bikh, being referred by all authorities 
to Ranunculace@, requires to be noticed, though it would not be easy, even in the 
present state of confusion of Indian Materia Medica, to find an article of, which 
it is more difficult to give a satisfactory account, and of which, at the same time, it 
is so necessary that we should have a clear idea. The subject to be entered into, with 
the detail which it requires, would claim a much greater space than can be allotted to 
it here : little more therefore can be done than to state the little that is known, and to 
urge observers, who may be favourably situated, to prosecute the inquiry. 
Dr. Buchanan first acquainted the European world with the existence of four kinds of 
Bikh. 1. Singya Bikh. 2. Bish or Bikh, the poison.. 3. Bikhma, a powerful bitter. 
4. Nirbisi; also without deleterious properties. The first Dr. B. referred to a species 
of Smilax; the author has had two species of Convallaria, called meetha-doodhya, 
and mohura-doodhya, represented to him as being of a poisonous nature. The three other 
kinds of Bikh Dr. B. refers to the genus Caltha, but for what reason it is difficult to 
discover, as the flower of the species he describes are without the characteristics of the 
genus ; and the plant, he allows, differs much in habit from Caltha palustris. It may 
be supposed, therefore, that he had only an opportunity of examining the flowers in a 
young state, and it is known that when he published his description, he was without his 
specimens. These are now in the East-Indian Herbarium, and have been all referred 
by Dr.Wallich to the genus Aconitum. Thespecimens of Cualtha?. Nirbisi and C.? 
Codoa of Dr. Buchanan, appear to be Dr. Wallich’s Aconitum feror, while those of C. ? 
Bishma, 
