124 ; ORD. VI. Umbeliaice. PISTINACA OPOPANAX. 
viz. “ sometimes in. little round drops or tears, more commonly in 
irregular lumps, of a reddish yellow colour, on the outside with 
specks of white, internally of a paler colour, and frequently 
variegated with large white pieces.” 
“‘ This gummy-resin has a strong disagreeable smell, and a bitter 
acrid somewhat nauseous taste. It readily mingles with water, by 
triture, into a milky liquor, which on standing deposits a portion 
of resinous matter, and becomes yellowish: to rectified spirit it 
yields a gold-coloured tincture, which tastes and smells strongly of 
Opopanax. Water distilled from it is impregnated with its smell, 
but no essential ie is obtained on committing moderate quantities 
to the operation.” 
Opopanax has been long employed by physicians, and esteemed 
for its attenuating, deobstruent, and aperient virtues; but_as it is 
commonly prescribed in combination with other medicines, these 
qualities are by no means ascertained, nor do its sensible qualities 
indicate it to be a medicine of much power. Dr. Cullen classes it 
with the antispasmodics; it is however less fetid than galbanum, 
though more so than ammoniacum, and therefore may be supposed 
to have some affinity to a union of these two, It has commonly 
been given in hypochondriacal affections, visceral obstructions, 
menstrual suppressions, and asthmas, especially when connected 
with a phlegmatic habit of body. It has no place in the Mat; Med. 
of the Edinburgh Pharmacopeeia, but, by the London College it is 
directed in the pillule e gummi. ° 
* Lewis, Mi M. p. 468. 
