318 A COMPENDIUM OF 
rium is 4 to % grain (0.008 to 0.016 grams), 
whilst,the dose of the Elaterin is #, to +5 grain, 
in form of pill or alcoholic solution. This very 
old drug was known to Greeks, and called by 
them ecballa, which signifies to expel, also by 
the Greek word e/etarion, which applies to its 
powerful, expulsive action on man. Squirting 
cucumber is a name given it because, when fully 
tipe, it expels part of its contents on being re- 
moved from the vine. 
Galbanum Galbanum, Gummi-resina Galba- 
num. — Natural order Umbelliferee Ortho- 
sperme. This gum is obtained from many 
species of the Umbellifere found in the East, 
but mostly from the Ferula Galbaniflua and 
the Fenela Rubicaulis, which are natives of 
northern and southern Persia. These plants 
attain a height of 4 or 5 feet, with very thick, 
solid stems, ornamented with grayish tomen- 
tose leaves. Galbanum exudes spontaneously 
from the stem of the plant, and like all the 
gum resins, it is fluid and either transparent or 
milky at first. becoming brown and hard on ex- 
posure to the air. The Galbanum as it occurs 
in commerce is from the size of a mustard 
seed to that of a small marble; of brown or 
yellowish brown color, having a waxy appear- 
ance; taste, bitter and aromatically pungent; 
odor, of its own kind, balsamic and agreeable. 
The gum is often found agglutinated and in 
masses; often so soft that it will spread over a 
large surface. This is distinguished from the 
tears by being called in commerce lump Gal- 
banum, andis considered of inferior grade. It is 
obtained from the Ferula Rubicaulis. Galbanum 
