218 



XIII. FUMARIACEjE. 



annual herb, a native of Asia. Its juice, obtained by a superficial incision of its capsule, and thickened 

 by exposure, is ojriutn, a substance containing several principles, and notably an alkaloid (morphine), 

 whose powerful properties render this one of the most valuable of drugs. Taken in a large dose, it is a 

 deadly poison ; but habit rapidly weakens its action, and by degrees considerable quantities can be swallowed 

 with impunity. Orientals, and especially the Chinese, drink, chew, or smoke opium to procure intoxica- 

 tion, the daily renewal of which becomes a want, which they satisfy at any price ; when they soon fall 

 into a state of physical and moral degradation, from which nothing can rescue them. 



In the north of France a variety of P. somnifennn is largely cultivated, the seeds of which are 

 blackish when ripe, and yield by expression a bland oil, used like olive oil, and known as white oil and 

 o/eolutn. The petals of the Field-Poppy (P. Jthceas) are mucilaginous, emollient, and slightly narcotic. 

 Chelidonhtm majus is a perennial herb, found in cultivated spots. The yellow and acrid milky juice, 

 which fills all parts of the plant, is used in Europe to destroy warts and to remove specks on the cornea; 

 it is regarded in Brazil, 1 either rightly or wrongly, as efficacious against the bite of venomous serpents. 

 The juice of Argemone me.ricfina possesses, it is said, the same virtues. The root of S<mguinaria 

 canademix, which contains a red juice, is acrid and bitter, and colours the saliva of a bright red ; sedative 

 properties similar to those of JDigitalis are attributed to it, and its narcotic seeds are considered equally 

 powerful as those of Datura Stramonium (Thorn-Apple). 



XIII. 



, D.C. 



Ilypfcoum. 



Seed, entire and cut vertically 

 (mag.). 



Hfpteoum. 

 Vertical section of flower (mag.). 



flJMMMM. 



Pistil (mag.). 



llyptcoum 

 prvcumbtni. 



I/jfpefoum. 

 Flower (mag.). 



Hypecoum. 1/vptcoum. 



One of the inner petals (mag.). One of the outer petals (mag.). 



1 There is probably some error here, Chelidonium not being a native of Brazil. ED. 



