CHAPTER II 
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RANUNCULACEJE. 
Traveller's Joy (Ckmatis Vitalba L.). The extent to which 
this species is poisonous is not clear, though all parts are stated to be 
poisonous, acrid and narcotic, while the juice tends to blister the skin. 
It is remarked by Cornevin that it is less poisonous in spring, when the 
ass and goat browse on it to a considerable extent without serious 
trouble, than later, when it cannot be eaten without danger. 
Toxic Principle. Traveller's Joy appears to contain strongly 
poisonous substances which have not been closely investigated. 
Greshoff found a Saponin in the leaves 1 . The poison is dissipated 
by heat. 
Symptoms. When eaten in quantity the young shoots are diuretic, 
violently purgative, causing dysentery, and in rare cases death. 
Applied to the exterior it is irritating and even vesicatory. (Cornevin.) 
REFERENCES. 
63, 81, 101, 130, 161, 233. 
Anemone (Anemone sp.). Both our native species of Anemone 
appear to be more or less poisonous in character : the Wood Anemone 
or Wind Flower (A. nemorosa L.), and also the Pasque Flower (A. 
Pulsatilla L.). These plants, the former of which grows in woods and 
damp shady spots in fields, and the latter on chalk downs and lime- 
stone pastures, may on occasion be taken by stock in early spring, when 
green herbage is not too plentiful, but deaths appear to be rare, even if 
they have occurred. All parts of the plants contain a toxic principle, 
which is volatile and destroyed by drying. 
Toxic Principle. The toxic substance is stated to be Anemone- 
camphor (oil of Anemone) which imparts a bitter taste to the plants, 
1 Robert states that various species of Clematis, Ranunculus, Anemone, and also 
Caliha palustris and Trollius europaeus, contain Anemonal or Pulsatilla-camphor, 
which causes strong local irritation, burning and swelling in the mouth, vomiting, 
intestinal inflammation, etc. ' 
