RANUNCULUS. Ill 



Illyrian Crowfoot is named in Greeke, SsXivov <*xpiov, that is, 

 Apium sylvestre, or Wild Smallage; also Herba Sardia;* it 

 may be, saith my author, that kind of Crowfoot called Apium 

 risus and YzXajrofyri ; and this is thought to be that of Gelo- 

 tophyllis, of which Pliny maketh mention in his twenty-fourth 

 Booke, 17 chap. ; which being drunke, saith he, with wine 

 and myrrh, causeth a man to see divers strange sights, and 

 not cease laughing till he hath drunk pine-apple kernels with 

 pepper. I think he would have said until he be dead ; because 

 the nature of laughing Crowefoot is thought to kill laughing; 

 but without doubt the thing is clean contrary, for it causeth 

 such convulsions, cramps, and wringings of the mouth and 

 jawes, that it hath seemed to some that the parties have died 

 laughing, whereas, in truth, they have died with great tor- 



ment. 



99 



The acrid principle of the Ranunculus is well known to 



beggars, who form with it ulcers on their legs to excite pity. 



This custom was prevalent in Gerarde's time, of which he 



writes thus : " Cunning beggers do use to stampe the leaves, 



and lay it unto their legs and amies, which causeth such filthy 



(among such wicked vagabondes), to 



ulcers as we daily see (among such wicked vagab 

 moove the people the more to pittie." 



It has been generally discarded from allopathic medicine, 

 chiefly owing to its virulent acrid effects, which, if given in 

 too large doses, has produced dangerous symptoms; but it is 

 still kept in some of the shops as a vesicatory, although the 

 use of cantharides is much more prevalent. " With a view to 

 their external stimulation, the Ranunculi have been used advan- 

 tageously in rheumatism, in hip disease, hemicrania, and fixed 

 pains of various descriptions. Amongst the old practitioners 

 who have recorded instances of their effects are Baglivi, Storck, 

 and Sennertius. A curious practice formerly prevailed in 

 several countries of Europe of applying the Ranunculus to the 



Some suppose this is the (Enanthe crocata ; others, the Ranunculus 

 ilammuLi. 



