a spur, and in Ranunculus itself, which has a nectariferous gland at the 

 base of the petals. An instance is described of the polypetalous regular 

 corolla of Clematis viticella being changed into a monopetalous irregular one, 

 like that of Labialee. Nov. Act. Acad. N. C. 14. p. 642. t. 37. 



Geography. The largest proportion of this order is found in Europe, 

 which contains more than l-5th of the whole ; North America possesses about 

 l-7th, India l-25th, South America ]-17th; very few are found in Africa, 

 except upon the shores of the Mediterranean : eighteen species have, accord- 

 ing to Decandolie, been discovered in New Holland. They characterise a 

 cold damp climate, and are, when met with in the Tropics, found inha- 

 biting the sides and summits of lofty mountains : in the lowland of hot 

 countries they are almost unknown. 



Properties. Acridity, causticity, and poison, are the general charac- 

 ters of this suspicious order, which, however, contains species in which those 

 qualities are so little developed as to be innoxious. The caustic principle 

 is, according to Krapfen, as cited by Decandolie, of a very singular nature; 

 it is so volatile that, in most cases, simple drying, infusion in water, or 

 boiling, are sufficient to dissipate it : it is neither acid nor alkaline : it is 

 increased by acids, sugar, honey, wine, spirit, &c. and is only effectually 

 destroyed by water. The leaves of Knowltonia vesicatoria are used as vesi- 

 catories in Southern Africa. Ranunculus glacialis is a powerful sudorific ; 

 Aconitum Napellus and Cammarum are diuretic. The Hepatica, Actaea 

 racemosa, and Delphinium consolida, are regarded as simple astringents. 

 Dec. The roots of several Hellebores are drastic purgatives ; those of the 

 perennial Adonises are, according to Pallas, emnienagogues ; and those of 

 several Aconitums, especially Napellus and Cammarum, are acrid in a high 

 degree. Ibid. The root of the Aconitum of India, one of the substances 

 called Bikh,orBish, is a most virulent poison. Trans. Med. and Phil. Soc. Calc. 

 2. 407. Authors are, however, not well agreed what the precise plant is 

 which produces this Bikh, although all agree in referring it to Ranunculaceae. 

 In India, it seems there are three principal kinds of Bish, varying from each 

 other in their properties, but all belonging to a genus which Dr. Hamilton 

 refers to Caltha. According to this author, the Bishma, or Bikhma, is a 

 strong bitter, very powerful in the cure of fevers : the Bish, Bikh, or Kodoya 

 Bikh, has a root possessing poisonous properties of the most dreadful kind, 

 whether taken into the stomach, or applied to wounds : the Nir Bishi, or 

 Nirbikhi, has no deleterious properties, but is used in medicine. Brewster, 

 1. 250. For some important information on this Bikh, Vish, Visha, or Ati- 

 visha, which Dr. Wallich considers his Aconitum ferox, see Plant. As. Rar, 

 vol. 1. p. 33. tab. 41. The root of Pseony is acrid and bitter, but is said 

 to possess antispasmodic properties. Ranunculus flammula and sceleratus 

 are powerful epispastics, and are used as such in the Hebrides, producing 

 a blister in about an hour and a half. Their action is, however, too violent, 

 and the blisters are difficult to heal, being apt to pass into irritable ulcers. 

 Ed. Ph. J. 6. 156. Beggars use them for the purpose of forming artificial 

 ulcers, and also the leaves of Clematis recta and flammula. From the seeds 

 of Delphinium staphysagria, the chemical principle called Delphine was 

 procured by MM. Lassaigne and Fenuelle; it exists in union with oxalic 

 acid. Ibid. 3. 305. The root of Hydrastis canadensis has a strong and 

 somewhat narcotic smell, and is exceedingly bitter; it is used in North 

 America as a tonic, under the name of Yellow root. Barton, 2. 21. The 

 root of Coptis trifulia, or Gold-thread, is a pure and powerful bitter, devoid 

 of any thing like astringency ; it is a popular remedy in the United States 

 for aphthous affections of the mouth in children. Ibid. 2. 100. The 

 wood and bark of Xanthorhiza apiifblia are a very pure tonic bitter. The 



