2l6 PILEWORT PIMPERNEL, SCARLET. 



PILEWORT. Ranunculus Ficarta, Linn. 



N.O. Ranunculacea. 



Syn. Small Celandine, Lesser Celandine. 

 Part used Herb. 



Action Astringent. As its name denotes it is 

 chiefly used for piles, for which it is almost a specific. 

 Internally the infusion of i ounce in a pint of boiling 

 water is taken in wineglassful doses. Generally this is 

 sufficient to cure most cases. Externally it can be 

 used with advantage as an ointment, applied locally 

 night and morning. 



Distinctive character Leaves mostly radical, with 

 stalks 4-5 inches long, the blade i-i inch long and 1^-2 

 inches broad, broadly cordate-angular, one to three only 

 on a stem. Flowers solitary, stalked, buttercup-like, 

 about i inch in diameter, petals yellow, usually eight, 

 sepals three. Root of several fleshy knobs, oblong- 

 rounded or club-shaped, J-i inch long, inch broad. 

 Taste, acrid. Odour, none. 



PIMPERNEL, SCARLET. Anagallis arvensls, Linn. 



N.O. Primulacece. 



Syn. Red Pimpernel, Shepherd's Barometer, Poor 

 Man's Weatherglass. 



Part used Leaves. 



Action Diuretic, diaphoretic, expectorant. This 

 plant possesses very active properties, although its 

 virtues are not fully known. For this reason caution 

 should be exercised in its use for dropsy, rheumatic 

 affections, hepatic and renal complaints. The fresh 

 leaves are made into a tincture 10 ounces to a pint of 

 diluted alcohol the dose of which is from 1-5 drops. 



