7 
ANEMONE PRATENS:s. ORD. XXVI. Multisitique. A69 
much resembles the Anemone Pulsatilla,* which grows wild in this 
country, and would doubtlessly prove a good substitute for the 
A. pratensis: the principal distinctions between these species, as 
they grow naturally, are taken from the flower, which in the A, 
pratensis is more pendulous, smaller, of a darker colour, and has 
the apices of the petals reflexed, the stem also is said to be less 
hairy, and shorter than that of the Pulsatilla.” 
This plant, in its recent state, has scarcely any smell, but its 
taste is extremely acrid, and when chewed, corrodes the tongue 
and fauces; and the dried plant likewise still retains a considerable 
share of acrimony. It also appears from some experiments to 
contain a camphoraceous matter, which was obtained in the form 
of crystals, of an unctuous taste, and very inflammable.‘ 
This plant, like several others of great activity, has been 
received into the Materia Medica of the Edinburgh Pharmacopeeia, 
upon the authority of Baron Stoerck, who recommends it as an 
effectual remedy for most of the chronic diseases affecting the eye, 
particularly amaurosis, cataract, and opacity of the cornea, pro- 
ceeding from various causes.‘ He likewise found it of great use 
in venereal nodes, nocturnal pains, ulcers, caries, indurated glands, 
suppressed menses, serpiginous eruptions, melancholy, and palsy. 
The Baron himself, who had for two years suffered much from a 
violent contusion of his eye, took this remedy, which he soon 
found occasioned a severe lancinating pain in the part affected: 
this he considered as a favourable omen of the specific action of 
the plant; an opinion which was afterwards confirmed in a great 
* An elegant specimen of this plant is correctly figured in English Botany, 
fig. 51. from which it may be seen how closely it resembles that here annexed, 
which we obtained through the favour of Mr, Curtis. * 
* We might also add, upon the authority of the Flor. Dan. that the leaves of 
the pratensis are somewhat tomentose, while those of the Pulsatilla are of a bright 
green, See plates 153, and C11. 
* See Hann. Mag. 1779. n. 105, 
. 4 Lib, de Pulsatilla nigric. 
No, 40.—vot. 3, 6c 
