308 POPULAR ECONOMIC BOTANY. 



Several Gums were omitted from the chapter on those 

 products, because their use was solely medicinal ; they will 

 now therefore be mentioned. 



Gum Asafoztida. — A gum-resin which exudes from in- 

 cisions made in the root of Ferula Asafcetida (Nat. Ord. 

 Umbelliferte) . 



Much learned discussion has taken place upon the pro- 

 bability of this plant being in use amongst the ancients 

 under the name of laser 9 which it is supposed has been 

 changed to asa, or, as it is called by Avicenna, assa. 



This Ferula is a native of Persia ; it has very large tap- 

 roots, similar to but much larger than the common parsnep. 

 In order to obtain the gum-resin the cultivators remove the 

 earth from the upper part of the root, and then cutting off 

 the crown, from this excision the gum-resin oozes as a 

 milky juice, which however rapidly changes colour and 

 hardens upon exposure to the air ; it is scraped off from 

 time to time ; and when fully hardened in lumps, it has a 

 red colour and disagreeable smell, resembling garlic. About 

 3000 lbs. were imported in 1852. Usually it is in lumps, 

 or run in one mass into a case ; sometimes it is in tears, 

 which are yellowish- white, and varying in size from a pea 

 to a walnut. 



