484 GUM-RESINS 



Luz (1893) found that the resin could be separated into two portions, 

 one consisting of a resene not attacked by caustic alkalies, and the 

 other and larger portion decomposed by long- continued boiling with 

 solution of caustic potash into salicylic acid and a resin-alcohol, 

 ammoresinotannol, which was obtained as a brownish powder. The 

 resin chiefly consists therefore of ammoresinotannol combined with 

 salicylic acid. 



The gum is allied to acacia gum. 



Luz was unable to detect sulphur in either the volatile oil or the 

 resin, although that element had previously been reported present in 

 ammoniacum. 



The drug contains also traces of free salicylic acid, which is the 

 source of the violet colour produced when ferric chloride is added to 

 an aqueous emulsion. 



Good qualities of the drug yield about 3 per cent, of ash and 65 per 

 cent, of resin. 



Uses. Ammoniacum is a stimulant, and, being excreted by the 

 bronchial mucous surfaces, stimulates and disinfects the secretion. 

 It is used as a disinfectant expectorant in chronic bronchitis with 

 profuse discharge, and in plasters as a stimulant to the skin. 



Varieties, &c. The official or Persian ammoniacum is distinguished 

 from African ammoniacum, said to be obtained in Africa from Ferula 

 communis, Linne, var. brevifolia, by the orange red colour it yields 

 with solution of chlorinated soda, and also by yielding a negative result 

 with the tests for umbelliferone. 



GALBANUM 



(Galbanum) 



Source, &C. Galbanum is a gum-resin obtained from Ferula 

 galbaniflua, Boissier and Buhse (N.O. Umbelliferce) , and probably 

 from other species. 



These plants are, like those yielding ammoniacum, large 

 Umbelliferous plants indigenous to and widely distributed over 

 Persia. Two varieties at least of the drug are well recognised viz. 

 Persian, which is soft and contains fruit and stalks, and Levant, which 

 is dried and contains slices of the root, seldom fruits or stalks. The 

 latter is the variety at present usually met with. 



Like the ammoniacum plants the galbanum plants contain, 

 especially in the cortical portion of the stem and root, numerous 

 schizogenous ducts that secrete a milky gum-resinous fluid. 



Part of the drug is apparently obtained by natural exudation from 

 the stem, but part is certainly produced by laying bare the root, 

 cutting the stem off near the crown, and collecting the juice that 



