BANUNCULACEJE. 77 



tonics. The various species of Coptis^ and especially C. Tecta and 

 C. trifoUa, the " Mishmec Bitter' and '' Gotdcn-threcKr of the 

 Americans, are considered as such in the United States, and used 

 against the aphthai and stomatitis of children. The root-stock of the 

 Canadian Hi/drastis' is very odoriferous and extremely bitter ; it is 

 recommended as a powerful tonic, and it has been remarked that it 

 contains berberinc, a principle found also in Xanthorkiza ajjiifolia^^ the 

 " YclIow-root," which contains a very bitter resin, and is also a 

 good tonic, and which might be substituted for Quassia amara ; 

 moreover, its wood is used to dye yellow.* 



The Columbines are now-a-days by some authors considered 

 to be only slightly tonic, and are nearly disused. The ancients were 

 much divided as to their true remedial value.* So are the moderns ; 

 for if some consider the common Columbine diuretic, aperient, 

 diaphoretic, antiscorbutic, pectoral, and allege that it keeps off gravel 

 and stone, and cures icterus and the sweating in phthisis, and that its 

 seeds favour the eruption in small-pox, scarlet-fever, and rot, others 

 regard it as only slightly detergent and depurative, or else incline 

 to fear it as being likely to produce the same effects as aconite. Its 

 Howers are used, says Murray, to make a syrup resembling that 

 made from violets. Fourcrgy pointed out the presence of a very 

 sweet perfume in its seeds. In this respect it resembles an Indian 

 Nigella, which is, according to Eoyle, employed in spicing certain 

 dishes in Afghanistan, which is known in that country under the 

 name of Siah-Dana, and might very well be the Black Cumin of the 

 Scriptures. 



Few flowers of this order possess a sweeter scent than that of 

 certain species of Clematis, which might be used in perfumery. Most 

 Ranuncdacece are inodorous ; the Anemones, and among others the 

 Wood Anemone, sometimes prized by the perfumer, have a slight 



* BiGELOW, Med. Hot., i. t. 5. — Peeeira, red colour. Adonis appeiiina, Calflia paluslris. 



Mat. Med., 4th cd., ii. ii. 698. Coptis hifolia, and Iltjdrasth, all dve yollow ; 



=* Barton, ilf«^. Med.,\i. t. 26. — Bentley, thu^owcrs of PcBoniafceminaveA, oi Delphinium 



Pharm. Jouni., iv. (1862), 540. Consolida, green; and the petals of the Colmn- 



^ Barton, ibid. — Bentley, I. cit., 12. bine blue. The leaves of Piilxdlilla are used to 



■• See p. 68. Many JRanunculacecB contain prepare a green ink, and its Howers are used to 



colouring matters, but are little used as dyes. A stain eggsiu Wurtemberg (Ducuksne, Hi pert., 



large (juantity of yellow pigment is found in the 169-175). 



cellular tissue of the bark and medullary rays of '' " It is not probable that a herb in no way 



several species of r/tw/ic^no^; T. aquilei/ifoliiim, acrid should have so great a virtue to resolve 



angustifolium, Jtavum, &c., are used as dyes. and to digest." (Fucns, op. cit., 78.) 

 The fruits of Actcea spicata furnish an ink and a 



