Part II.

Materia Medica.

137

ly ; and in forty eight hours, the juice which has exuded isscraped off, and a .second transverse section is made. This ope-ration is repeated until the root be entirely exhausted of juice.After being scraped off, the juice is exposed to the sun to har-den.

It is brought to us in large irregular masses, composed ofvarious little shining lumps or grains, which are partly of awhitish colour, partly reddish, and partly of a violet hue.Those masses are accounted the best which are clear, of a palereddish colour, and variegated with a great number of ele-gant white tears.

This drug has a strong fetid smell, somewhat like that ofgarlic ; and a bitter, acrid biting taste. It loses some of itssmell and strength by keeping, a circumstance to be particu-larly regarded in its exhibition.

Neumann got from 1920 parts 1350 alcoholic extract andafterwards 190 watery; and inversely, 550 watery, and also60 grains of volatile oil, in which the smell resides entirely.Tromsdorff got from four ounces 33 grains of volatile oil,lighter than water, 20 of heavy oil, 7 drachms 12 grains ofbright brown resin, and 2 ounces 4 drachms of brown bitterextract of a nauseous and slightly alliaceous taste, which risesin distillation both with alcohol and water.

The seeds of*a congenerous species growing in the north ofPersia, the Ferula Persica, sent by Dr Guthrie of St Peters-burgh to Dr Hope, vegetated and even produced fertile seedsat Edinburgh.

Medical use. —It is the most powerful of all the fetid gums,and is a most valuable remedy. It acts as a stimulant, anti-spasmodic, expectorant, emmenagogue, and anthelmintic. Itsaction is quick and penetrating.

It is often serviceable,

1. In spasmodic croup.

2. In dyspepsia, amenorrbcea, and chlorosis.

3. In asthma, dyspnoea, and hysteria.

4. In tympanites and worms.It is exhibited,

1. In substance, in the form of pills; in doses of from

five to twenty grains, either alone, or combined withbitter extracts or purgatives.

2. Dissolved in some simple distilled water.

3. Dissolved in alcohol.

4. In the form of clyster, to the extent of about twodrachms.