74 RANUNCULUS BULBOSUS. 
was told by the person whose cattle were feeding 
on it, that he kept five cows and one horse so 
entirely on this plant and what the heath afforded, 
that they had not consumed half a ton of hay 
throughout the whole year; none being used 
except when the river was frozen over. I exam- 
ined the whole parcel on which four cows were 
feeding, in the beginning March, and found the 
whole consisted exclusively of the Ranunculus 
fluviatilis without any mixture of the Potamoge- 
ton, Carex, Sparganium, or other aquatic plants. 
In summer, however, it can hardly be avoided 
but that there must be a mixture of some of these, 
but other plants are not chosen. 
“ This account was confirmed to me by differ- 
ent persons; by whom I was further informed 
that hogs are also fed with the same plant, on 
which they improve so well, that it is not neces- 
sary to allow them other sustenance, till it is 
proper to put them up to fatten.” 
In Veterinary practice the Ranunculus bul- 
bosus has been employed as an external stimu- 
lant. To this purpose Dr. Chapman, in his 
Therapeutics, thinks it may be better adapted 
than other topical excitants. 
