i 
The plant is extensively gathered in early spring, and cooked for “ greens,” 
making one of our most excellent pot-herbs ; the pickled flower-buds are mentioned 
as a fine substitute for capers. The fresh plant is very acrid, so much so that cattle 
will not eat of it. Rafinesque asserts that cattle browsing upon it die in conse- 
quence of an inflammation of the stomach. 
The medical history of this herb is’ very sparse, and of no consequence; it 
has been used in cough syrups, which would, without doubt, have been fully as 
efficacious without it. 
PART USED AND PREPARATION.—The fresh herb, gathered when flower- 
ing, is chopped and pounded to a pulp, enclosed in a piece of new linen, and 
pressed. The expressed juice is then, by brisk succussion, mingled with an equal 
part by weight of alcohol. This mixture is allowed to stand eight days in a dark, 
cool place. 
The tincture, separated from the above mass by filtration, has a clear, orange- 
brown color by transmitted light, a sweet, then somewhat acrid taste, and a neutral 
reaction. 
CHEMICAL CONSTITUENTS.—The acridity so noticeable in the fresh herb 
entirely disappears on the application of heat; this property is considered by 
Lloyd to resemble, or be identical with, acrid oil of ranunculus,* though his attempt 
to extract this oil and anemonin, from a distillate of the fresh plant, was unsuccessful. © 
Tannin is present in appreciable quantity, the tincture responding quickly to 
the tests with acetate of lead and chloride of iron. | 
PHYSIOLOGICAL ACTION.—We have a scanty proving of this drug detailed 
in the Encyclopedia of Pure Materia Medica; insufficient, however, to afford an 
insight to its real action. 
DESCRIPTION OF PLATE 7. 
1. End of branch, from Binghamton, N. Y., May r1th, 1884. 
2. Section of flower. es 
Stamen (enlarged). — 
- Achenium (enlarged). 
- Section of ovary (enlarged). 
. Section of stem. 
An bw 
* See under Ranunculus sceleratus, 3. 
