117 



purposes Ammoniacum is obtained almost entirely by Cx\SE 

 way of Bombay, where it arrives in bales often mixed 61. 

 w^ith large quantities of extraneous matter, from which it 

 is sorted and sent to the various markets. It occurs in 

 tears of a yellowish straw colour, or in lumps^ the tears 

 becoming agglutinated by pressure or heat. It is a 

 powerful srimulating expectorant and valuable in chronic 

 bronchitis and other pulmonary affections. Externally it 

 is applied as a local irritant. Ammoniacum is, however, 

 not so much used as formerly : it has a strong alliaceous 

 smell. 



A specimen of DOREMA root is also shown, which is 

 imported into Bombay from Persia in large quantities, 

 and used as incense in the Parsee fire temples. It " was 

 " some years ago exported to Europe as Bombay sumbul, 

 *' after having been cut up and impregnated with musk." 

 When old or worm-eaten it becomes spongy, and might 

 be mistaken for sumbul. Stems of the plant are shown 

 at the back of the case. 



The Ammoniacum here referred to is not that of 

 Hippocrates, Dioscorides, and Pliny, which was used for 

 fumigation and was derived from Africa. This last forms 

 an article of trade between Egypt and Arabia and is 

 furnished by a species of Elaeoselinum. A specimen 

 collected in Morocco is shown on the bottom shelf. 



A gum-resin very similar to the Ammoniacum of 

 commerce is furnished by Dorema Aucherl, Boiss., a 

 plant widely distributed in the western provinces of 

 Persia and the neighbourhood of Ispahan. 



Note also Dill seed, the fruits of Peiicedanum gixweo- 

 leiis, Bth. and Hook, f., an annual found throughout 

 Southern Europe, extending from Spain to the Caucasus 

 and Persia, and also into Egypt and Abyssinia. It was 

 introduced into England at the end of the 16th century 

 and is cultivated for the sake of the fruits, from w-hich 

 oil of Dill is readily obtained by distillation. Dill 

 possesses stimulant, carminative, and aromatic properties, 

 and is often administered in the form of Dill water. 



On a lower shelf are models of PARSNIPS, the roots of 

 Peucedanum sativum^ Bth. and Hook, f., cultivated forms 

 of the common wild Parsnip. The parsnip has been 

 cultivated as an esculent from a very early period ; 



