UMBELLIFERZ. 155 
sing into red, and the Levant different shades of violet, 
petroleum spirit-extracts from the Persian sorts give 
th nitric acid a rose-red colour; those from the Levant 
s different shades of violet. Bromine vapour colours the 
Persian weakly or intensely violet, but the Levant yellow. 
The ether-resin from both kinds of galbanum upon boiling 
with water, gives indications of umbelliferon. 
As to the origin of galbanum, the author believes from its 
varied behaviour with reagents, the different action of the 
volatile oils upon polarized light, and the different proportions 
f volatile oil to the gum-resin, that it is derived from differ- 
t plants. He also points out that the Levant galbanum 
curring in commerce contains no fruit and seldom stalks, but 
ways slices of root, whilst the Persian galbanum always con- 
jains fruit and stalks. 
- According to Messrs. Schimmel & Co., galbanum oil is of 
pale yellow colour, and possesses a pronounced odour of the 
m. Its specific gravity at 15° C. is 0-914; it boils, appe 
tly without decomposing, between 165° wud 300°. 
A sample of galbanum, collected from FP’. galbanilua in 
sia by Aitchison, and examined by E.G. Baker in 1886, 
ve the following results :— 
Volatile oil “pe a ap ee 3°108 
Resin soluble in tlice see a 61:200° 
Pa 5, digied bay vee 7576 
Gum soluble in water ... eek ay 17:028 
Insoluble matter —s_.... sas oes 10°560 
ciicibe 
Sulphuric acid coloured the gum-resin a dark brows cold 
ydrochloric acid hardly affécted it, but when boiled the — 
ixture turned a dirty red colour, which was not altered by 
c ohol. A small portion of gum-resin boiled in water 
owed to cool gave on the addition of ammonia a faint b 
vorescence indicating the presence of umbelliferon 
ined no sulphur. Pecos am, _ es A66- 
