A P I A C E M. 329 



one from Chiruana, which was of a pleasant smell, the other fetid, from 

 Persia, which seems to be the present drug. The name is said to be derived 

 from the Hebrew word asa, to heal, andfcetida, from its odour. Royle says 

 that assa is probably of oriental origin, and is applied to other gum-resins. 



Assafcetida is procured from incisions made into the upper portion of the 

 root, or by taking successive slices from it. According to Kcempfer, the pro- 

 cess of collecting is divided into four parts ; the first of which in April con- 

 sists of clearing away the earth from the root of the plant, and removing the 

 lower leaves and fibres, which are then laid over the root to protect it from 

 the sun ; in May the top of the root is transversely divided, and the covering 

 of leaves replaced ; two or three days afterwards, the exuded juice is scraped 

 offand put in cups; these processes are repeated until the root is exhausted. 

 Another collection being made in June, and a final one in July. The product 

 is exposed to the sun to harden, after which it is packed for exportation. 



Assafcetida as found in the shops, is in masses of different sizes and con- 

 sistence. It is sometimes somewhat soft and adhesive, and at others quite 

 hard and brittle. It is not readily pulverised, except at a low temperature, as it 

 softens under the pestle. On being broken it presents a waxy lustre. It is 

 very various in colour, but is usually whitish, intermixed with darker parts. 

 On exposure to the air it becomes reddish, and finally brown. Its taste is 

 unpleasant, bitter, and acrid. The odour is powerful, alliaceous, and even 

 fetid, being peculiarly disagreeable to most persons, whence the Germans 

 have expressively called it Teufelsdreck, or Stercus diaboli. On the other 

 hand, among many Eastern nations, it is highly esteemed as a condiment, and 

 Capt. Kinnier states, that in Persia the leaves of the plant are eaten as greens, 

 and even the root, when roasted, (Ainslie, Mat. Ind. i. 21.) Sir Alex. 

 Burnes also says, " In the fresh state it has the same abominable smell, and 

 yet our fellow-travellers greedily devoured it." ( Travels, ii. 243.) Ksempfer, 

 moreover, observes that it is much more powerful in the fresh than in the 

 dried state, one drachm of the recent juice giving out a stronger smell than a 

 hundred pounds of the concrete gum. But its use as a condiment is not con- 

 fined to the Asiatics ; it is also employed to flavour certain articles of food in 

 Europe. Even when used as a medicine, persons often become so fond of it 

 as to swallow it with absolute pleasure; this has been remarked in cases of 

 children, who have taken it for some time as a palliative in hooping cough. 



Assafcetida partakes of the usual characters of the gum-resins, but when 

 exposed to heat never completely melts, though it softens and becomes ad- 

 hesive. According to Brandes, it consists of Resin, 48-85; Gum, 19-40; 

 Bassorin, 6-40 ; Volatile oil, 4*60, &c. Pelletier obtained more resin and 

 volatile oil, and it is probable the proportions of the constituents vary in dif- 

 ferent specimens. The volatile oil is said to be most abundant in the fresh 

 drug, and is the ingredient on which the offensive odour depends ; the medi- 

 cal qualities also are mainly attributable to it, though some efficacy is un- 

 doubtedly owing to the bitter resin. 



The effects of Assafoetida on the system, are stimulating, antispasmodic, 

 expectorant, and emmenagogue. Its local effects are moderate, for although 

 when internally administered in moderate doses, it produces a sensation o 

 warmth, and an increased action of the heart and arteries, with some heat of 

 skin, it is destitute of the irritating properties of many articles of its class. 

 From the experiments of Jorg, it also appears to cause an increased peristaltic 

 action of the bowels, and of the mucous secretions, with headache and gid- 

 diness, and a stimulation of the genito-urinary apparatus. Its influence on 

 the nervous system is very marked, as is shown by its efficacy in so many 

 morbid conditions. Dr. Pereira is of opinion that it has a special action on 



