-UMBELLIFERZ. 149 
ssful treatment of two cases of abortion with Asafcetida 
are is of a pearly white, which by exposure to the air 
comes bright pink and finally dirty yellow. Inferior samples 
onsist of agglutinated tears, with | a certain proportion <2 
ght pink colour. The drug has a powerful but not purely 
ceous odour, and a bitter aérid taste. 
aeroscopie structure.—In the root, portions of which may 
etimes be obtained from a mass of second sort Asafoetida, 
may be seen a perfectly regular arrangement of the 
, contrasting strongly with the root of F'. alliacea. Itis 
hat root remarkable for very large laticiferous vessels, 
at these are distributed symmetrically, the largest occupying 
outer radius of the section. 
Chemical composition. —Asafcetida consists of resin, gum 
essential oil, in varying proportions, but the resin gene- 
y amounting to more than one-half. The authors of the 
armacographia say :— 
“As to the oil we have repeatedly obtained from 6 to 9 per 
ent. by distilling it from common copper stills. It is light 
ellow, has a repulsive, very pungent odour of Asafootida, — 
es at first mild, then irritating, but does not stimulate like 
mustard when applied to the skin, Itis neutral, but 
nage eae to the air acquires an acid reaction and differen 
r; it evolves sulphuretted hydrogen. In the Sel 
ie oil is free from onnaen git: beat boil 
