GALBANUM. 



UMBELLIFERJE. Eiibon Galbanum. 



^T^ins gum bears some resemblance in smell and in medici 

 nal qualities to assafcetida, but in a much more modified 

 degree of offensiveness. It exudes from the branches 

 of a plant, and was used as one of the four &quot; sweet 

 spices&quot; in the holy perfume of Ex. xxx. 34, where alone 

 it is mentioned. In view of the seeming incongruity of calling 

 by the name of &quot; a sweet spice&quot; a gum which smelled some 

 what like assafcetida, it should be remembered that the com 

 pound perfume would differ from any of its ingredients, and, 

 moreover, that this perfume was to be placed in the tabernacle 

 of the congregation, where the object probably was to counter 

 act the odors which would always in some degree arise from 

 the animal sacrifices, and from the sprinkling of blood which 

 took place at this tabernacle of the congregation, as recorded 

 in Numb. xix. 4. The smell of such a gum would neutralize 

 other odors more effectually than would the perfume of those of 

 a milder and sweeter nature. Eastern nations, however, differ 

 from Occidental in regard to the choice of perfumes and as 

 to what constitutes the agreeable or disagreeable. A lady 

 who visited India writes that, on entering a temple in Chim- 

 chore, the priests presented her with almonds and raisins 

 sprinkled with assafoetida as rendering them more acceptable; 

 for in India that drug is chewed as a luxury. 



