Chap. 109.] 
THE BATEACHION. 
149 
has leaves somewhat thicker than those of coriander, nearly the 
size of those of the mallow, and of a livid hue : the stem of 
the plant is long and slender, and the root white ; it grows on 
moist and w^ell-shaded embankments. The second^^ kind is 
more foliated than the preceding one, the leaves have more 
numerous incisions, and the stems of the plant are long. The 
third^^ variety is smaller than the others, has a powerful smell, 
and a flower of a golden colour. The fourth'^^ kind is very like 
the one last mentioned, but the flower is milk-w^hite. 
All these plants liave caustic properties : if the leaves are 
applied unboiled, they raise blisters like those caused by the 
action of fire ; henCe it is that they are used for the removal of 
leprous spots, itch- scabs, and brand marks upon the skin. 
They form an ingredient also in all caustic preparations, and 
are applied for the cure of alopecy, care being taken to remove 
them very speedily. The root, if chewed for some time, in 
cases of tooth-ache, will cause^"^^ the teeth to break ; dried and 
pulverized, it acts as a sternutatory. 
Our herbalists give this plant the name of ^' strumus," from 
the circumstance of its being curative of . strumous^^ sores and 
inflamed tumours, for which purpose a portion of it is hung 
up in the smoke. It is a general belief, too, wdth them, that if 
it is replanted, the malady so cured will reappear^^ — a criminal 
practice, for which the piantago is also employed. The juice 
of this last-mentioned plant is curative of internal ulcerations 
of the mouth ; and the leaves and root are chewed for a similar 
23 Identified by Des Fontaines with the Ranunculus hirsutiis, or pbilonotis. 
Fee, with Hardouin, considers it to be tlie same as the Apiastrum of B. 
XX. c. 45, and identifies it with the Eanunculus Sardoiis of Crantz, the 
plant probably which produces a contraction of the mouth, rendered famous 
as the ^' Sardonic grin," and more commonly known as the Ranunculus 
sceleratus, Apium risus, or Apium Sardoiim, '* Laughing parsley," or 
" Sardinian parsley.' 
30 Identified by Sprengel and Desfontaines with the Ranunculus repens. 
or Creeping crow-foot ; but by Fee, with the Ranunculus muricatus of 
Linnaeus. 
2^ Identified by Desfontaines with the Ranunculus aconitifolius ; by Fee 
with the Ranunculus aquatilis of Linnaeus, the AVater crowfoot. The 
Ranunculi are all active poisons. 
3- A fabulous assertion, probably, and it is very doubtful if any one ever 
made the trial of its efficacy. 
^ Or scrofula. Sje B. xxi. c. 83, and B. xxvi. c. 5. 
