326 
i Treatise on 
A R T I c. VII. Cf Sagapenum. 
Sagapenum et Serapinum, Off. Grac. 
Sachabenigi five Sechbenlgfi Arab. This is a Juice of 
a middle Nature between a Gum and a Refin, fome- 
times in Drops like Frankincenfe, fometimes run 
together into large Glebes, externally of a reddifh 
Colour, internally fomething like Horn, and grow- 
ing foft and white under the Teeth, or betwixt the 
Fingers. It has a fharp biting Tafte, and a ftrong 
unpleafant Smell, approaching to that of the Leek 
and Fine-Tree together, or refembling as it were a 
Mixture of Alfa Foetida and Gaibanum. Being 
put to a Candle it takes Flame, and entirely dif- 
folves, by boiling, in Water, Wine or Vinegar. 
We fometimes find it in the Shops run together into 
impure Glebes or Malles, of an obfcure dirty Co- 
lour, but a TaiTe and Smell like the purer Sort. 
The bell is pellucid, of a reddifh brown Colour on 
the Gutfide, and appears within, when broken, to 
be compofed of whitifh or yellow Drops, grows 
foft and fticky betwixt the Fingers in Handling, and 
difperfes a ftrong dilagreeable Smell. Charas men- 
tions a Sort of Sagapenum of a white Colour both 
on the Outfide and within, which he thinks the 
beft, fuppoftng it to be frefii ■, but fuch is very 
rarely to be met with in the Shops. 
It was known to the ancient Greeks. Diofiorides • 
fays it is juice of a ferulaceous Plant which grows 
in Media. It now comes to us from Perfia , and 
other Eaftern Countries, but the Plant from which 
it flows is unknown •, though from Pieces of the 
Stalk, and from the Seeds, which are often found 
mixed with the Juice, it is generally fuppofed to be 
a Species of Ferula. 
In 
