ASSA-FOETIDA, or Asa-Foetida, a Gum or Resin,brought from the East-Indies, of a brownish Colour, a sharp Taste, and a very strong, offensive Smell; whence it is also called Stercus Diaboli, or Devil’s Dirt.
It is not known from what Plant this Gum is procured; all that has been advanced on that Point by the Botanists and the Writers of Pharmacy, amounts to no more than Conjectures, founded on the different Relations of Travellers—They who after the Ancients, suppose it drawn from the Zafer,or Laserpitium, would be hard put to it to get clear ofthose many Disputes which have so often divided the Botanists on the Subject of the true Zafer, and the Succus Cyrenaicus, so infinitely prized among them, Indeed there seems but little Resemblance between the Gum described by M. Furetiere, out of Pliny, lib. xix. c. 3. and our Asa-Foetida: If they be the same, it is certain we are not acquainted with half its Virtues.
The modern Asa-Foetida, which is little used but by theFarriers, is a Gum said to distil during the Summer’s Heats, from a little Shrub, frequent in Persia, Media, Assyria,and Arabia.—It is at first white, bordering on yellow, thenon red, and lastly on violet; and melts under the Fingers like Wax.
It is of known Efficacy in some uterine Disorders; butthe Rankness of its Smell occasions it to be seldom used; yet in the East- Indies it makes an Ingredient in their Raouts.
ASSA-FOETIDA
- Details
- Written by: Ephraïm Chambers
- Category: Unclassified