586 CINNAMON ASAFCETIDA 



OINNAMOMI OLEUM. The oil distilled from cinnamon bark 

 (B.P.). 



The bark occurs in rolled quills, is thin and brittle, yellow- 

 brown externally, darker brown on its inner surface, with a 

 fragrant odour, and a warm, sweet, aromatic taste. Besides 

 mannite, resin, and other vegetable constituents, the bark 

 contains tannic and cinnamic acids, but its aroma and 

 medicinal properties depend upon the presence of about 

 one per cent, of a volatile oil, cinnamic aldehyde (C 9 H 8 0), 

 which, when fresh, is bright yellow, but becomes cherry- 

 red when kept. Its constituents are eugenol (also found 

 in cloves), cinnamic aldehyde, and a terpene. An inferior 

 oil is extracted from the leaves. 



ACTIONS AND USES. Cinnamon bark is aromatic, carmina- 

 tive, and astringent, and is used for flavouring. 



The oil resembles that of anise, caraway, coriander, 

 peppermint, and of other Umbelliferse and Labiatae. It is 

 antiseptic, carminative, stimulant, and haemostatic, and is 

 useful in all animals affected with indigestion, flatulence, 

 or diarrhoea. The tincture is made with 4 ounces of bark 

 to a pint of alcohol (70 per cent.). 



DOSES, etc. Of the bark, horses take ^iv. to i. ; dogs, 

 3ss. to 3i- Of the oil, horses take fl\xx. to f3i- ; dogs, 

 Tl\i. to Tf\iv., administered on sugar, or in syrup, mucilage, 

 or spirit and water. 



ASAFCBTIDA 



A Gum Resin obtained by incision from the root of Ferula 

 foetida, and probably other species. Imported from 

 Bombay (B.P.). Nat. Ord. Umbelliferse. 



The Ferula fcetida, or Narthex asafcetida, has a massive 

 perennial root, black externally, white within. When the 

 plant is four years old, the leaves and stems are removed, 

 and, six weeks later, a slice is cut from the upper part of 

 the root ; the slicing is repeated several times at intervals, 

 when the plant is exhausted, after yielding from a half 

 pound to two pounds of a foetid milky juice, which concretes. 

 The yellow-brown tears are mixed with soft earth and made 



