50 FLORA HOMCOPATHICA. 
lustre. By exposure to light and air, the recently-fractured sur- 
face acquires, in a few hours, a violet red or peach-blossom red 
colour, which, after some weeks, diminishes in intensity, and 
gradually passes into yellowish or pinkish brown. It is fusible 
and inflammable, burning in air with a white flame, and the 
evolution of much smoke. Its taste is acrid and bitter, and its 
odour strong, alliaceous, and peculiar. There are two different 
sorts generally found in the shops, Asafcetida in granis, or Asa- 
feetida in tears; Asafcetida in massis, or lump Asafetida: this 
latter is supposed to be the resin of the Ferula Asafctida, the 
other being that of the Ferula Persica. Besides the gum-resin, 
the fruit of the Narthex Asafwtida is imported into India from 
Persia and Afghanistan, under the name of Anjoudan, being 
extensively employed by the native physicians. 
GrograrnicaL Distrisution, — Persia; Afghanistan ; 
mountains of Chorassan and Laar. Dr. Falconer found it in 
the valley of Astore, one of the subordinate valleys of the Indus, 
behind Cashmeer. Sir Alexander Burnes also found it in the 
mountains of Hindoo Koosh, 7,000 feet above the level of the 
sea. 
Parts useD in Mepicinz, anp Mopr or PREPARATION.— 
The Gum-resin, that which is known in commerce as the 
Lump Asafcetida, for the reason above stated. The tincture is 
prepared by infusing fifty grains of the powder in 1,000 
drops of alcohol. The attenuations to be made as directed 
under Aconite. 
Mepicat Uszs (Homm@opraruic).—Asafectida was added to 
the Hom. Materia Medica by Stapf. According to Noack and 
Trinks (Handbuch fiir Hom. Arzneimittell,), 
Asafctida acts prin- 
cipally upon that portion of the nervous s 
ystem which regulates 
the vegetative functions, and is generally suitable when the 
sensibility of the organism is excessive, and accompanied by a 
corresponding excess of venous blood. Scrofulous or neryous 
press with a venous and hemorrhoidal constitution and a 
phlegmatic temperament, are more particularly certain of the 
