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CHAP. 51.—EMPETROS. BY OUR PEOPLE CALLED CALCIFRAGA: FOUR REMEDIES.

Empetros,1 by the people of our country called "calcifraga,"2 grows on mountains near the sea, and is generally found upon rocks: the nearer it grows to the sea the salter it is, acting as an evacuant of bile and pituitous secretions. That, on the other hand, which grows at a greater distance and more inland, is of a more bitter flavour. It carries off the aqueous humours of the body, being taken for that purpose in broth of some kind, or else hydromel. When old, it loses its strength; but used fresh, either boiled in water or pounded, it acts as a diuretic, and disperses urinary calculi. Authorities who wish full credence to be given to this asserted property, assure us that pebbles boiled with it will split asunder.

1 Fée, with Sprengel, identifies it with the Salsola polychlonos of Linnæus, Branchy saltwort or glasswort; Bauhin with the Passerina poly- galifolia. The Crithmum maritimum of Linnæus, Sea samphire, has been suggested by Desfontaines. Littré gives the Frankenia pulverulenta of Linnæus. Holland suggests Saxifrage.

2 "Calculus-breaking."

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