672 BOTANY AND PHARMACOGNOSY. 



per cent, of ferulaic acid (chemically related to vanillin, eugenol 

 and cinnamic acid), which occurs in iridescent, tasteless, odorless 

 needles and yields on fusion with potassium hydroxide, acetic, 

 oxalic and protocatechuic acids. The drug also contains 0.06 

 per cent, of vanillin; 0.60 per cent, of free asa-resinotannol, and 

 formic, acetic, valerianic and malic acids ; and ash 5 to 10 per cent. 

 Adulterants. — Asafetida frequently contains fragments of 

 vegetable tissues, red clay, sand and stones; it is sometimes 

 adulterated with dirty white, gritty masses of gypsum, at other 

 times with barley or wheat flour or translucent gums. Recently 

 it has been adulterated with pieces of rose-colored marble. 



BENZOINUM.— BENZOIN.— A balsamic resin obtained 

 from Styrax Benzoin, and probably other species of Styrax (Fam. 

 Styracese), trees (p. 360) indigenous to Java, Sumatra and Siam. 

 The resin flows from incisions made in the bark, hardens, and is 

 then collected, the commercial varieties being known as Siam 

 and Sumatra Benzoin, the former being preferred. The compo- 

 sition of the resin varies according to the age of the tree, the 

 youngest trees yielding the best product. The constituents of the 

 commercial resin are not found in the tissues of the tree, but 

 appear to develop as a pathological product due to an injury of 

 the trees resulting from the manner of incising the bark, although 

 probably the exposure of the resin to the air has an influence on 

 the constituents. 



Sumatra Benzoin. — In irregular masses composed of yel- 

 lowish or reddish-brown tears of variable size and a reddish- 

 brown and translucent or grayish-brown and opaque matrix ; brit- 

 tle, the tears internally being milky white; becoming soft on 

 warming, and yielding benzoic acid on sublimation; odor agree- 

 able, balsamic, resembling that of styrax ; taste slightly aromatic. 

 About 80 per cent, is soluble in a solution of potassium hydroxide 

 or in 95 per cent, alcohol. 



Siam Benzoin occurs in concavo-convex tears; it has a 

 vanilla-like odor and is almost completely soluble in solutions of 

 the alkalies or in alcohol; it is further distinguished from the 

 Sumatra variety in not containing cinnamic acid, and therefore 

 does not yield benzaldehyde on boiling an acidulated solution with 

 potassium permanganate. 



