36  Galbanum  from  Ferula  Galbaniflua.  {Am-ja0nuyif87arm* 
their  own  country.  But  when  Mr.  Schmalfuss,  encouraged  by  his 
success,  endeavored  to  obtain  a  first  wagon-load  of  plants  for  export 
to  Germany,  the  Bulgarian  otto  trade  suddenly  raised  an  outcry  and 
prevailed  upon  the  Government  to  issue  an  order  strictly  prohibit- 
ing the  export  of  plants.  Efforts  will  be  made  to  obtain  the  re- 
peal of  this  order,  and  Mr.  Schmalfuss'  friends  are  sanguine  that 
at  any  rate  they  will  ultimately  succeed  in  obtaining  a  sufficient 
number  of  plants;  but  for  the  moment  their  plans,  so  far  as  the 
wholesale  import  of  Tracian  roses  into  Germany  is  concerned,  are 
frustrated.— The  Chemist  and  Druggist,  December,  1886,  p.  809. 
NOTES  ON  A  SAMPLE  OF  GALBANUM  FROM  FERULA 
GALBANIFLUA.1 
By  E.  G.  Baker. 
The  following  are  a  few  notes  on  a  sample  of  galbanum  collected 
by  Dr.  Aitchison,  Surgeon-Major,  in  Afghanistan,  and  brought  back 
by  him,  together  with  the  plant  from  which  it  was  collected.  The 
plant  has  been  identified  by  Mr.  Hemsley,  of  the  Kew  Herbarium,  as 
Ferula  galbaniflua,  Boiss.  et  Buhse. 
The  gum-resin  consisted  of  agglutinated  tears  of  a  white  or  reddish- 
brown  color,  usually  compact  and  hard,  but  softening  if  held  in 
the  hand. 
When  broken  it  presents  a  dull  white  waxy  fracture  resembling  or- 
dinary ammoniacum,  in  fact,  judging  from  external  appearances,  it 
might  easily  be  mistaken  for  a  sample  of  that  drug. 
Its  odor  is  peculiar,  but  not  unpleasant.  Mixed  with  the  gum-resin, 
portions  of  the  stem  from  which  it  was  obtained  were  found. 
From  the  sample  handed  over  to  me  for  examination,  a  portion  was 
selected  fairly  representative  of  the  whole ;  this  was  powdered  and 
sifted  through  muslin,  and  then  treated  with  the  following  solvents : 
Petroleum  Ether. — Of  the  sifted  gum-resin  I  took  5  grams,  and 
treated  it  with  50  cc.  of  petroleum  ether — allowing  the  mixture  to 
remain  in  a  suitable  vessel  for  several  days,  during  which  time  it  was 
frequently  agitated.    I  then  decanted  the  fluid  portion  into  a  tared 
dish,  rinsed  the  vessel  out  with  more  petroleum  ether,  and  evaporated 
 ^  
1  Read  at  an  Evening  Meeting  of  the  Pharmaceutical  Society,  Wednesday  r 
December  8,  1886. 
