EXUDATIONS, JUICES, ETC. 
247 
products and palm oil ; these are distinguished by 
being more or less opaque and somewhat porous and 
not having the characteristic odor of the genuine arti- 
cle, and also by the formation of a turbid mixture on 
the addition of two parts by weight of glacial acetic 
acid. 
AS \ FETID A . 
A gum-resin obtained from the root of Ferula foetida 
and other species of Ferula (Fam. Umbelliferse), peren- 
nial herbs indigenous to Eastern Persia and Western 
Afghanistan. Asafetida is obtained by incising the 
crown of the root when the gum-resin exudes, hardens 
and is then scraped from the root ; it is exported by 
way of Bombay. 
Description. — In irregular masses composed of tears 
of variable size and a yellowish-brown or brownish- 
gray matrix; when fresh the tears are tough, yellowish 
white and translucent or milky white and opaque, 
changing gradually to pinkish and finally reddish 
brown, and becoming, by drying, hard and brittle ; 
odor persistent, alliaceous ; taste bitter, alliaceous and 
acrid. 
Asafetida yields a milk-white emulsion when tritu- 
ated with water, which becomes yellowish on the addi- 
tion of solutions of the alkalies. Treated with strong 
hydrochloric acid, the filtrate gives a blue fluorescence 
on making it alkaline with ammonia water, distin- 
guishing it from ammoniac. The freshly fractured 
surface gives a greenish color on the application of a 
few drops of 40 per cent, nitric-acid solution, distin- 
guishing it from galbanum. Not less than 40 to 50 
per cent, should dissolve in alcohol. 
Constituents. — Resin about 60 per cent. ; gum about 
25 per cent. ; volatile oil about 6 per cent. ; ferulic acid 
about 1 per cent. ; ash 5 to 10 per cent. 
