i8 . Dr.PvLTEiJE\'sO/>/erv^/tonsonibe 



Some of our farmers are aware of the efFeils of Croufoof, of which the 

 R. acrls and R, bulbcfus are fo common in our paftures, and by which 

 the mouths of their cattle are frequently inflamed and bliftered ; and 

 doubtlefs the efFeds often extend ijiuch farther, and fometimes 

 prove fatal. There can be little doubt of the fame deftrudlive con- 

 fequences from other poifonous plants, in cafes where the caufe is 

 little fufpeaed. 



M. Krapf, who inftituted a fet of experiments wholly confined to 

 this genus of plants"*, attributes to the R. aquaulh^ the deleterious 

 qualities belonging to the others ; obferving, that it will veficate the 

 fkin, but is flower in its operation than the R. bulbcfus and R. feeler atus. 

 Bifhop Gunnerus alfo, in his Flora Norvegica t> tells us, that this 

 fpecies is not lefs noxious to cattle than the R.fceleratus ; that even 

 the goat, an animal lefs nice in the feleftion of its food than the 

 others, leaves it wholly untouched. 



It is well known to botaniflis, that the Ranunculus aquatilts of 

 Linnsus comprehends four fpecies of the older writers ; and even 

 Haller, and fome more modern authors, ftill keep them leparatc : 

 among whom, the late ProfefTor Sibthorp, in his Flora Oxon'mijis^ 

 enumerates them diftinftly, under the names of l. R. heterophylluT^ 

 or R. aquatilh Ger. em. 829. Ray Syn. 249. 2. R. aquatilis, or R. aqua- 

 tilis omnino tenuifolius J. B. iii. 781. Ray Syn. 249. 3. R. circinatusy 

 R. aquaticus albus, circlnatis tenuifTime divlfis foliis, floribus ex alis 

 longis pediculis innixis Pluk. aim. 311. /. 55. 2. Ray Syn. 249. and 

 4. R.JluviatHisy or Ranunculo five Polyanthemo aquatili albo affine, 

 -Millefolium maratriphyllum fluitans. J. B. iii. 782. Without en- 



* C. Krapf, F.xperiinenta- de nonnuHorum Ranunculorura venenata qualitate, horum 

 externo et interne ufu. fieiina, 1766. 2\'o. p. 107. 



t No. 646. 



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