FulminatioN, (from fulmino, to lighten or thunder). In chemistry it means generally explosion, when it is the same with detonation. But in the depuration of the more perfect metals, when infused with lead, a bright colour succeeds a kind of sulphureous cloud before appearing in the metal during the fusion, which has this appellation. See Detonatio. Fumaria, (from fumus, smoke; since, like smoke, it draws tears). Fumitory. Fum is terae, capnos, her-ba melancholifuga; fumaria officinalis Lin. Sp. Pi. 984. Common purple fumitory. It is a plant with bluish green, finely divided leaves, producing, towards the tops of the stalks, spikes of irregular purplish flowers, followed each by a single seed; annual, flowering in May and June, and delighting in shady places. The leaves have a bitter saline taste; and an extract obtained from a decoction of them is very bitter. The juice of these leaves, if dropped into the eyes, is supposed to cure dimness of sight. The plant has been supposed by physicians of the first authority to be a powerful deobstruent, particularly of the hepatic system; and it is highly commended in scorbutic and acrimonious states of the fluids; consequently in various cutaneous diseases. The juice, mixed with whey, and used as common drink, is said to prove diuretic and laxative. Dr. Cullen has found it useful in many cases where bitters are prescribed; but it is chiefly useful in clearing the skin, and he has experienced its good effects in many instances of cutaneous affections, resembling lepra. The dose is two ounces of the expressed juice twice a day: the dried root may be also given in infusion, or decoction; or the extract may be substituted; for these all retain the virtues of the fresh herb.

Fumaria bulbosa, Lin. Sp. Pi. 983, is of similar virtues, but weaker than the f.officinalis.

Fumaria alba, also called cysticapnos Africana scandes. African climbing bladder fumitory.

Fumaria vesicaria Lin. Pi. Sp. 985, is a climbing plant, chiefly resembling the fumitory above described, only that the fruit is an oval bladder, containing the seeds.