ASAFCETIDA. 319 



potassium sulphide ; the residual oil is found to have the odour of cin- 

 namon. 



The resin of asafoetida is not wholly soluble in ether or in chloroform, 

 but dissolves with decomposition in warm concentrated nitric acid. It 



contains a litUe Feridaic Acid, C^H^ ^Qg^'jCH.CH.COOH, dis- 

 covered by Hlasiwetz and Barth in 1866, crystallizing in iridescent 

 needles soluble in boiling water ; it is homologous with Eugetic Acid, 



C6H2 (q™') ch^H CH3 ' '^^^^^^ is to be obtained by adding C0= to 

 the molecule of eugenol (page. 28-1'), 



Ferulaic acid may be obtained from vanillin, C^H^k OH (see 



(CHO 

 article Vanilla). 



Fused with potash, ferulaic acid yields oxalic and carbonic acids, 

 several acids of the fatty series, and protocatechuic acid. The resin 

 itself treated in like manner after it has been previously freed from 

 gum, yields resorcin; and by dry distillation, oils of a green, blue, 

 violet or red tint, besides about \ per cent, of Umbelliferone, C^H^O^ 



The mucilaginous matter of asafoetida consists of a smaller part 

 soluble in water and an insoluble portion. The former yields a neutral 

 solution which is not precipitated by neuti-al acetate of lead. The 

 insoluble part is readily dissolved by caustic lye and again separates on 

 addition of acids. 



Commerce — The drug is at the present day produced exclusively 

 in Afghanistan. Much of it is shipped in the Persian Gulf for Bombay, 

 whence it is conveyed to Europe ; it is also brought into India by way 

 of Peshawur, and by the Bolan pass in Beluchistan. 



In the year 1872-73, there were imported into Bombay by sea, 

 chiefly from the Persian Gulf, 3367 cwt. of asafoetida, and 4780 cwt. of 

 the impure form of the drug called Hingra. The value of the latter is 

 scarcely a fifth that of the genuine kind. The export of asafoetida from 

 Bombay to Europe is very small in comparison with the shipments to 

 other ports of India. 



Uses — Asafoetida is reputed stimulant and antispasmodic. It is in 

 gi-eat demand on the Continent, but is little employed in Great Britain. 

 Among the Mahommedan as well as Hindu population of India, it is 

 generally used as a condiment, and is eaten especially with the various 

 pulses known as ddl. In regions where the plant grows, the fresh 

 leaves are cooked as an article of diet. 



Adulteration — The systematic adulteration, chiefly with earthy 

 matter already pointed out, may be estimated by exhausting the drug 

 with alcohol and incinerating the residue. 



Allied Substances. 



Hing from Abushahir, also in Bombay simply called Hing. 



Among the natives of Bombay, a peculiar form of asafoetida is in 

 use that commands a much higher price than those just described; it is 

 also the only kind admitted there in the government sanitary establish- 



