Lond. Edin. Gummi resina, Dub. Sagapenum.

Syn. Sagapenum (F.), Sagapengummi (G.), Sagapeno (I.), Sugbeenuj (Arab.), Kundel (H., Sans.).

This gum resin, which is brought to this country from Smyrna, Aleppo, and Alexandria, is the concrete juice of an unknown Persian plant. Dioscorides mentioned it as the juice of a ferula growing in Media3; and nothing more is known of its source at this day; although Willdenow supposes it to be the ferula Persica.4

1 A sugar in every respect resembling common sugar is obtained from the maple.

2 Vide Traite des Poisons, etc. Par M. P. Orfila, torn. i. p. 281.

3 Dioscorides. lib. 3,. c. 95.

4 This plant was fully described by Dr. Hope, as the plant which yields the assafoetida, which, however, is the produce of another species. See Phil. Trans. lxxv. 36. t. 3, 4.

Qualities. - Sagapenum has an alliaceous odour, and a hot, acrid, bitterish taste, not unlike that of assafoetida, only weaker. It is in agglutinated drops or masses, of an olive or brownish yellow colour, slightly translucent, and breaking with a horny fracture. It softens, and is tenacious between the fingers; melts at a low heat, and burns with a crackling noise and white flame, giving out abundance of smoke, and leaving behind a light spongy charcoal. Water and strong alcohol dissolve it partially; but it is almost completely soluble in proof spirit. In distillation with water it yields a little volatile oil, and impregnates the water strongly with its flavour. Its constituents are 33.34 of gum, 54.26 of resin, 0.40 acidulous malate of lime, 10.20 of volatile oil.

Medical properties and uses. - This gum-resin is antispasmodic and emmenagogue; and externally discutient. It is sometimes employed in hysteria and chlorosis, and other cases in which assafoetida has been found serviceable; but it is much inferior in its powers to that gum-resin. It is usually given in substance, in doses of from grs. vj. to grs. xij., made into pills.

Officinal preparations.-Pilulae Galbani composite, L.D. Con-serva Rutae, D. Confectio Rutae, L.