is said, acridity, causticity, and poison, are the gene- 
ral characteristics, it is further remarked, “ Ranuncu- 
lus flammula, and sceleratus are powerful epispas- 
tics, and are used as such in the Hebrides, produ- 
cing a blister in about an hour and a half. Then- 
action is, however, too violent, and the blisters are 
difficult to heal, being apt to pass into irritable ulcers. 
Beggars use them for the purpose of forming arti- 
ficial ulcers, and also the leaves of Clematis recta, 
and flammula.” 
However much may, of late, have been said, re- 
garding beggars, they seem to be but the regular suc- 
cession of one of the frail parts of a w hole, w hich 
ever has and is likely still to form a portion of the 
human family. 
Gerard, who wrote almost three hundred years 
ago, in allusion to the Ranunculus flammula, says, 
“ Cunning beggers do vse to stampe the leaues, and 
lay it vnto their legs and arms, which causeth such 
filthy vlcers as we daily see among such wicked 
vagabonds, to moue the people the more to pittie. 
Just so do cunning practices continue. 
Clematis flammula, to which reference is above 
made, as possessing acrid properties, is a hardy 
climber, that for the pleasant fragrance which it 
diffuses for some distance around itself, should 
have a place in every garden. It is suitable for 
training on a trellis ; or in some situations, it may be 
conveniently trained as is done in the neighbour- 
hood of Paris ; which is merely by supporting it as 
single detached shrubs, on upright stakes, to the 
height suited to its situation, where it produces a 
mass of odoriferous white blossoms. 
