A Treatise on 
3 2 4 
A R T I c. VI. Of Opopanax. 
Opopanax et Opopanacum , Of. ’OTroTravag, Gr^r. 
This is a Gum-Refm in Drops about as big as a 
Pea, fometimes larger, fometimes fmaller, out- 
wardly of a reddifh Colour, but inwardly yellow 
tending to white, of a difagreeable ftrong Smell, 
an intenfe bitter, acrid Tafte, fomewhat naufeous, 
and fat, yet fo as to be friable. It fometimes comes 
to us compared into dirty Glebes, of a blackifh 
red Colour, mixed with Fragments of Stalks and 
other Drofs. It ought to be chofen in clear, fat, 
and friable Tears, of a Saffron Colour on the Out- 
fide, and whitifh or inclining to Yellow within, of 
a bitter Tafte, and ftrong unpleafant Smell. When 
it is black, and mixed with Impurities, it is not 
fit for Ufe. It is brought from the Eafl. 
We are entirely ignorant of the Plant from which 
it exudes ; though it was no Stranger to the Greeks. 
According to Galen it is drawn from the wounded 
Root and Stalk of the Panax Heracleus ; but we 
have no certain Accounts in Authors of the Plant 
to which this Name was given *. 
In a chymical Analyfis , two Pounds of the pureft 
Opopanax yielded four Ounces and four Drachms 
of limpid, odorous, and fubacid Phlegm ; four 
Ounces, five Drachms, and twelve Grains of reddilh 
Liquor, which was acid and empyreumatick ; one 
Ounce, fix Drachms, and fixty Grains of Liquor, 
both acid, and urinous ; one Ounce, one Drachm, 
and fixty fix Grains of Oil, which was tranfparent, 
thin, light, and reddifh •, four Ounces, one Drachm, 
* Tt is generally believed to be the Panax Heracleum majus of 
Gerard , called by Cafpar Baubine Panax Pajiinaccs folio , and 
by John Baubine Spbondylio <vel potius Paflinaca Germanic ce affi- 
nis Panax, <vel Pfeudo Coflus flare luteo ^ See Dale's Pharmacol: 
p . 197. and Miller s Botan. Off. p. 321. 
and 
