96 THE USES OF PLANTS. 



CARAWAYS, the half-fruits of Carum Carui, L., are 

 mainly employed as a spice (see p. 66, supra) ; but 

 the essential oil or distilled water is used in perfumery 

 and as a stimulant in medicine. 



Carum copticum, Benth., the AjOWAN of India 

 ( = C. Ajowan, Benth. and Hook. fil. = PtycJiotis Ajowan, 

 DC.) is now a chief source of the stimulant and car- 

 minative stcaroptene THYMOL, C 10 H 13 HO, also ob- 

 tained from Thymus vulgaris, L., and Monarda 

 punctata, L. The fruits are mainly exported from 

 Calcutta to Leipzig. Thymol was admitted into our 

 Pharmacopoeia in 1885.* 



The fruits of FENNEL (Fceniculum capillaceum, 

 Gilib.), which contain the stearoptene Anise-camphor 

 or Anethol, C 10 H 12 O, are distilled, but chiefly for 

 cattle medicines and cordials (see p. 64, supra). There 

 are several varieties in commerce.f The fruits of 

 ANISE (Pimpinella Anisum, L.) have a similar com- 

 position (see p. 65, supra) and are similarly employed. 



Ferula Sumbul, Hook, fil., discovered in 1869 in the 

 mountains south-east of Samarkand, is the source of 

 SUMBUL, which was introduced into Russia about 

 1835 as a substitute for musk, was then used in cases 

 of cholera, reached England about 1850, and was 

 admitted into our Pharmacopoeia as an antispasmodic 

 in 18674 



Similarly Ferula NartJiex, Boiss., F. Scorodosma, 

 Benth., and allied species, producing the reputedly 

 stimulant ASAFCETIDA, have only become well known 



* Spon, ' Encyclop. Indust. Arts,' p. 791 ; Bentley and 

 Trimen, ' Medicinal Plants,' ii, pi. 120, 205, 208. 



t 'Pharrnacographia,' pp. 274-5; Bentley and Trimen, ii, pi. 123. 

 \ Bentley and Trimen, ii, 129; 'Pharrnacographia,' p. 278. 



