POISONOUS PLANTS 183 



Treatment. — Mild purgatives, demulcents, and stimu- 

 lants are indicated. Garrard {he. cit.) gave nitrous ether, 

 aromatic ammonia, extract of hyoscyamus, peppermint 

 water, tincture of opium, and a 4-drachm ball in the case of 

 a horse. There was purgation and gradual recovery. 



Chemical Diag-nosis.— In the absence of precise know- 

 ledge chemical tests for ranunculus poison are impossible — • 

 indeed are non-existent. The exact study of the physio- 

 logical and chemical properties of this, as of other indefinite 

 ' acrid juices,' is greatly needed. 



Other Genera of the Ranunculacese. 



Clematis. — The Clematis Vitalba, traveller's joy or old 

 man's beard, is a well-known climbing plant, the white flowers 

 of which are common on hedge-rows in June and July. All 

 parts of the mature plant are dangerous, but cases of 

 poisoning are rare. It contains as active principle clematin, 

 resembling anemonin, and acting as an irritant purgative 

 and diuretic, causing enteritis, and, in quantity, fatal 

 dysentery. Externally it is a powerful irritant and 

 vesicant. 



Thalietrum. — The exotic Thalictrum viacrocarpum has 

 been shown to contain in the root an alkaloid thalictrine, 

 whose effects are like those of aconitine. In Great Britain 

 the species T.flavum, yellow thalictrum or meadow rue, is 

 sometimes found in moist places and along ditches. It is 

 not common, nor does it appear to be so dangerous as the 

 cultivated T. macrocarpum. In poisoning the general 

 character of the symptoms would probably recall those of 

 aconite, but no cases are recorded. 



Anemone. — The anemones have a perennial rootstock, 

 leaves radical, flower-stem naked, excepting an involucre of 

 three leaves, usually at a considerable distance from the 

 flowers. Sepals five or more, frequently six, coloured and 

 petal-like, longer than the stamens. No petals ; stamens 

 numerous; carpels numerous, one-seeded, pointed, or ending 

 in a long feathery awn. 



