EUMARIA OFFICINALIS. ORD. XXV. Lomentacce. 459 
three yellowish anther: the germen is oval: the style is filiform, 
about the length of the filaments, and crowned with a flattish 
downy stigma: the seed is roundish, and contained in a small heart~ 
shaped pod. Fumitory is common in corn fields, and usually 
flowers in May. 
By the Ancients this plant was named Capnos,* from being 
thought to be peculiarly useful in dimness of sight, and other 
diseases of the eyes. The leaves, which are the part of the plant 
directed for medicinal use by the Edinburgh College, are ex- 
tremely succulent, and have no remarkable smell, but a bitter 
somewhat saline taste. “ The expressed juice, and a decoction 
of the leaves in water, inspissated to the consistence of extracts, 
are very bitter, and considerably saline; on standing for some 
time they throw up to the surface copious saline efflorescences, 
in figure somewhat resembling the crystals of nitre, to the taste 
bitterish and slightly pungent. A tincture of the dry leaves, in 
rectified spirit, yields, on inspissation, an extract less in quantity 
and bitterer in taste than either the watery extract or inspissated 
juice.”* Fumitory has been supposed by several Physicians of 
great authority,° both ancient and modern, to be very efficacious 
in opening obstructions and infarctions of the viscera, particularly 
those of the hepatic system: it is also highly commended for its 
power of correcting a scorbutic and acrimonious state of the fluids; 
and has therefore been employed in various cutaneous diseases ; 
when taken in pretty large doses it proves diuretic and laxative,. 
especially the juice, which may be mixed with whey, and used as 
* Kanvs Dioscor. Kavos Gal. i. e. fumus—* Claritatem facit inunctis oculis, 
delachrymationemque, ceu fumus; unde nomen.” Plin, L. 25. cap.13. See also 
Galen. Simp. Lib. 7. p. 49. 
> Lewis M. M. p. 315. 
¢ Aetius, Boerhaave, Ff, Hoffman, and many others. 
The juice of Dandelion and Fumitory is greatly commended by Leidenfrost i in 
obstinate diseases of the skin. See Diss. de succts herb. &c. 
An infusion of the leaves is used as a cosmetic to remove freckles and clear the skin. 
