CALTCIFLOR^. 563 



perties. From recent investigations, it would appear that sumbul is the root 

 of Nardostachys Jatamansi, sl plant belonging to the Valerianaceae (see p. 573). 



Hydrocoiyle asiatica This plant is now employed in India both internally 



and externally, in leprosy, secondary syphilis, &c. It is said with much 

 benefit. 



3. Poisonous UsiBELLiFERiE. 



The poisonous properties are due to the presence of a narcotico-acrid juice, 

 and seem to vary according to the nature of the soil and climate, for Dr. 

 Christison has noticed, that certain species which are generally regarded as 

 poisonous, are quite harmless when obtained from some localities near Edin- 

 burgh. This is a very important point, and one which requires further inves- 

 tigation. Should it prove to be true in all cases, it would account in a great 

 degree for the varying strength of the officinal preparations of Hemlock, and 

 which is commonly regarded to arise from their careless preparation. 



(Ethusa Cynapium, Fool's Parsley, is a very common indigenous plant 

 possessing poisonous properties It has been mistaken and eaten for Parsley. 



Cicuta virosa, Water Hemlock or Cowbane, is another indigenous plant 

 of a highly poisonous nature. C. maculata, a native of America, has very 

 jjoisonous roots, which from having been mistaken for other harmless Um- 

 bellijerx, have not unfrequently led to fatal results. 



Contum maculatum, H^-mlock. — This plant is indigenous. In proper doses 

 it is extensively employed in medicine to relieve pain, relax spasm, and com- 

 pose nervous irritation in general. It owes its properties chiefly, to the 

 presence of a colourless oily liquid with a penetrating mouse-like odour, to 

 which the name of Conia has been given. In improper doses, Hemlock is a 

 powerful poison, and many fatal accidents have arisen from its having been 

 mistaken for other harmless Umbelliferous plants. 



CEnanthe crocata^ Hemlock, — Drop-wort or Dead-tongue, and (Enanthe 

 Phellandrium, Fine- leaved Water-drop wort, are intensely poisonous in most 

 localities. The roots of (Enanthe pimpmelloides, as already noticed (see p. 

 561), are said to be wholesome. All the above species are indigenous. 



4. Umbellifer^ yielding FCETiD GuM Resins. 



There are many plants belonging to this order which yield foetid gum-resins. 

 The most important of these gum-resins are, Opoponax, Sagapenum, Assajce- 

 tida, Amnioniacum, and Galbanum. The latter four are officinal in the British 

 Pharmacopoeias. They all possess antispasmodic and more or less stimu- 

 lant properties ; this is especially the case with Assafcetida, which is also 

 extensively used as a condiment in Persia and some of the adjacent countries, 

 in the same way as garlic and other allied plants are employed in Europe. 

 Aramoniacum also possesses expectorant properties to some extent, and both 

 it and Galbanum are used externally in the firm of plasters, to promote the 

 absorption of tumours and chronic swellings of the joints. The plants yielding 

 these gum-resins are not in all cases known, but they are exclusively natives 

 of Persia, and the adjacent regions, except the one yielding Opoponax, which 

 is only found in the south of Europe, and in Syria. These gum-resins are 

 imported into this country from Turkey, the Levant, or India. They are 

 commonly seen in two forms, — that is, in roundish or irregular tears, or in 

 masses formed by their union. 



Opoponax appears to be obtained from incisions into the root of Opoponax 

 Chironium, formerly called Pastinaca Opoponax. 



Sagapenum. — Nothing positive is known with respect to the plant yielding 

 this substance. It has been supposed to be obtained from the root oi Ferula 

 persica, or some other species of Ferula. 



Assafcetida. — This is obtained by incisions into the rof>t of Narthex or 

 Ferula Assafcetida, and probably also to some extent from Ferula persica or 

 some other species, or from some other plants. Royle suggests that Frangos 

 pabularia may be one of the sources. There is no doubt, however, as to 

 Narthex assafcetida producing the greaterpartof the Assafcetida of commerce, 

 and it may be found to be the only source. 



Ammoniacum is yielded by Dorema ammoniacum. It exudes from the 

 stem probably to some extent spontaneously, but principally in consequence 

 of punctures produced by innumerable beetles, when the plant has attained 

 perfection. 



Galbanum, — The source of this gum- resin is still uncertain. Lindley 

 00 2 



