Origin. - The herb of Anemone Pulsatilla and Anemone pratensis L., collected soon after flowering.

Description and Properties. - Leaves radical, petiolate, silky-villous, twice or thrice deeply three-parted or pinnately cleft, with linear, acute lobes, appearing after the large purple flowers; inodorous, very acrid. It contains a peculiar, acrid, crystal-lizable principle known as anemonin. Other constituents not as yet isolated may also be present.

Dose. - 1-5 grains (0.06-0.3 Gm.).

Physiological Action. - Externally and Locally. - Pulsatilla is a decided irritant to the skin, the bruised plant when rubbed upon it even producing vesication. In the mouth it produces a sensation of burning, succeeded by numbness.

Internally. - The action of the drug is similar to that of aconite, though pulsatilla possesses greater emetic properties.

Therapeutics. - The drug may be employed for the same purposes as aconite, though as a cardiac sedative it is less efficient. It has been recommended as a useful emmenagogue.