ASSAFŒTIDA.

299

ASPLENIUM RUTA MURARÍA, Linn.

Synonimes :— Asplenion, Sauve-vie, Ruedes murailles, Fr. ; Mauertreiff-I'aren,Mauerrautenfilz farren, Mauerraute,Germ.

Ant. ; Bruns. ; Gall. ; Ferr. ; Wirtem ;Bergius ; Guibourt ; Murray andGmelin ; Spielmann.This plant grows in all Europe. (Cryp-

togamia, Linn. ; Filices, Juss. ; Fig. Bull.,

Herb. t. 1S5.)

The herb (Hería Rutœ murariœ seu Pa-ronychia seu Adianti albi) is employed.It is composed of tripinnated leaves, thefirst subdivision of which is trifoliated, thesuperior fol, ole trilobed and rhomboidal,and the extremities of the folioles crene-lated. It is inodorous ; and its taste issweetish and rough.

It is astringent ; and is used in catarrhalcough, as an expectorant.

ASSAFŒTIDA.

Assafœtida, Gummi Assafœtida, StercusDiaboli ; at\<piov /xtjSlxoi'

Synonimes :— Asa fœtida, Fr. and Span.;Teufelsdreck, Stinkender asand, Germ. ;Hiltil, Arab. ; Czertowo kowno, Bo-hem. ; Hingu, Bal.; Hinghu, Cyng. ;Dyvelsdreck, Dan. ; Hing, Duk. andHind. ; Duivelsdreek, Dut. ; Assa fœ-tida, Ital. and Port. ; Ingu, Jav. ; An-gu, Mal. ; Unguzeh, Pers. ; Czacielayno, Asafeta, Pol. ; Hinga, Hingu,Sans. ; Dyfuelstrack, Swed. ; Perun-gj'um, Tam. ; Inguva, Tel.

Lond.; Edinb. ; Dubl. ; Amer. ; Amst. ;Ant. ; Austr. ; Batav. ; Bavar. ; Belg.;Bruns.; Dan.; Mil. Copen. ; Hisp. ;Gall.; Ferr.; Form. Hup. Fr.; Fenn.;Fuld. ; Genev. ; Hamb. ; Hann. ;Hass. ; Lipp. ; Olden. ; Lusit. ; Pol. ;Cast. Borus.; Borus. ; Ross.; Sax.;Suec. ; Wirtem.; Herbip. ; Wurceb. ;Ainslie ; Bergius ; Brugnatelli ;Coxe ; Guibourt ; Murray and Gme-lin ; Paris ; Piderit ; Saunders ;Spielmann ; Zarda.

This gum-resin is sometimes in detachedtears but more frequently in large irregularand agglutinated masses, of a yellowishwhite or reddish brown colour, enclosingwhite, semi-transparent pieces, and fre-quently also, pieces of a violaceous colour.It is friable when cold, but rendered softby heat. It has a strong, penetrating, al-liaceous smell ; and an acrid, biting, nau-seous, and very durable taste.

It contains, according to Pelletier, apeculiar resin, gum, bassorine, volatile oil,and supermalate of lime.

It is the inspissated juice which flowsfrom transverse incisions made in the rootof the Fervla Assafœtida, Linn., a plant of

four drams.

of each,two drams,one scruple.

Persia. (Pentandria Digynia, Linn. ; Um-bettiferœ, Juss. ; Fig. Flore Medic. I. 42.)

It is a very energetic stimulant. Its ac-tion seems to be particularly directed uponthe nervous system, on which account it ischiefly prescribed in spasmodic diseases,such as asthma, hysteria, hypochondria,&c. It has also been classed among thevermifuges and emmenagogues.

A.

Preparations which contain Assafœtida inthe dry form.

powder against caries. (Sainte-Marie)

R. Assafœtida,Oyster-shells,Sugar,Camphor,Mix intimately.

Dose, a scruple twice a day, in carieswhether proceeding from an internal, orexternal case.

pills of assaecstida. (Amer. ; Mil.Copen. ; Cast. Borus. ; Wurceb. ;Augustin ; Coxe ; Ellis ; Niemann)

It. Assafœtida, any quantity

Honey, a sufficient quantity,

to form a pilular mass. (Niemann)

Dose, one scruple.R. Assafœtida, three parts

Spanish Soap, one part.

Make a pilular mass. (Amer.; Mil.Copen.)

Ellis prescribes one dram of assafœtida.

ten grains of soap, and a sufficient quantity

of water ; to make ten pills.

R. Assafœtida, two drams.

Soap, one dram.

Oil of Fennel, six drops.

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