ASAFCETIDA. 77 
ever, is a very inferior substitute, and entirely destitute 
ef the fine aromatic flavour of the former species. 
87. ASAFCETIDA is a resinous gum, procured from the 
root of a large umbelliferous plant (Ferula asafoetida) which 
grows in the mountains of some parts of Persia. 
The leaves of this plant are nearly two feet long, doubly winged, 
and have the leaflets alternate. The flowers are small, and the 
seeds oval, flat, and each marked with three longitudinal lines. 
No one who has ever smelt the peculiarly powerful, 
and garlic-like odour of asafcetida, can well forget it. 
If exposed to the air, but particularly when heated, it 
will pervade every apartment of a house. Notwithstand- 
ing this, it constitutes a favourite seasoning, for food, 
with the inhabitants of many of the eastern countries 
of the world. The Banian Indians, who never eat 
animal food, use it in almost all their dishes ; and, be- 
fore their meals, they even rub their mouths with it, to 
stimulate their appetite. It is sometimes used by our 
own cooks, but in very small quantity, in place of garlic. 
In many parts of Arabia and Persia, asafioetida is much 
esteemed as a remedy for internal diseases, and even as 
an external application to wounds ; and, with us, it is 
considered a powerful medicine in several disorders. 
It has been applied with success, in the cure of hoop- 
ing-cough and worms ; and in flatulent colics, it has, in 
many cases, afforded great relief. It is imported in 
masses of various sizes and form, and of yellow, brown, 
or bluish colour, sometimes interspersed with roundish 
white pieces. 
The plant from the root of which asafcetida is pro- 
duced grows in the mountains which surround the small 
town of Disgnun, in Persia ; and, at the season when 
it is collected, the whole place smells of it. The upper 
part of die roots, which are sometimes as thick as a 
man's leg, rises somewhat above the surface of the 
ground. The harvest commences when the leaves 
begin to decay ; and the whole gathering is performed 
by the inhabitants of the place, in four different jour- 
neys to the mountains. The demand for the article in 
