315 
SAGAPENUM. 
This gum resin is a concrete juice, and imported into this coun- 
try from Alexandria, Smyrna, and Aleppo. The plant which fur- 
nishes this substance has neter been correctly ascertained. Willde- 
now supposes it to be the product of the Ferula Persica: the 
identical plant which Dr. Hope describes as furnishing the gum 
assafoetida. Dioscorides mentions this substance as the juice of a 
Ferula growing in Media ; hence there is reason to suppose that 
Willdenow's supposition will, on further botanical researches, prove 
well founded. 
Sensible Qualities, &c. Sagapenum is met with either in 
agglutinated large masses, or in distinct tears, outwardly of a 
brownish yellow colour, internally paler, somewhat uauslucent, 
and bicaliiiig witii a. horny fracture ; gf'o"" 
soft on being handled, 
and sticks to the fingers ; melts at a low heat, and burns with a 
white flame and crackling noise ; its taste is hot, somewhat bitter, 
and nauseous ; its smell is disagreeable and alliaceous. It is soluble 
in proof spirit, and partially so in alcohol, and water. By distilla- 
tion with water, it yields a small portion of volatile oil. Its consti- 
tuents, according to Pelletier, are 31.94 gum, 64.26 resin, 0.40 
acidulous malate of lime, 11.80 volatile oil, and 0.60 Qf a peculiar 
matter. 
Medical Properties and Uses. The virtues of Sagapenum 
are somewhat similar to those of galbanum and assafoetida, (but in 
an inferior degree) and may be employed in the same diseases; we 
therefore refer our readers to those articles. 
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AMMONIACUM. 
Ammoniac, a gum resin. 
The plant which furnishes this substance, has never been described 
by any person who has seen it growing in its native soil, with the ex- 
ception of Mr. Jackson, whose authority cannot be wholly depended 
upon. On the authority of Willdenow, the London and Edinburgh 
