’ 
148 UMBELLIFER ZA. 
the mature roots begin to send up a flowering stem, which 
cut off and the juice collected in the manner described 
Kempfer; who witnessed its collection in the province 
Laristan in Persia. It was long supposed that comme 
Asafcetida was the produce of F. Narthew, Boiss., a Tib 
plant which was discovered by Falconer in Astor, but the 
no evidence of the drug ever having been collected from 
Tn May, 1884, Dr. Peters, of the Bombay Medical Service, 
stationed at Quetta, observed the flowering stem of an Asa 
plant which was being offered for sale in the bazar as a 
table by the Kakar Pathans. Specimens which he 
forwarded to one of us were identified by Mr. E. M. Holn 
I’. fetida, Regel. Dr. Peters also found the dried root 
same plant in the drug shops, and learned that it was 
remarks:—‘ Jn all stages of its growth, every part 
plant exudes upon abrasion a milky juice, which is col 
and constitutes the drug of commerce. The stem ina j 
state is eaten raw or cooked.” Aitchison says that a ? 
The remarks made respecting the use of Asafectida b' 
natives of India under F. alliacea are more or less ap 
to the present article, which is often imposed upon the 
classes as a substitute for the more expensive Hing. Inm 
European medicine, Asafctida is used as a stimulant 
antispasmodic in chronic bronchitis, hysteria and ty 
it is often administered in the form of enema, as it is 
give rise to a sense of weight and heat in’ the stomacl 
given by the mouth. Dr. Paolo’ Negri has 1 
