OCR Text |
Show ROUGH PARSNIP, 301 rope; but the gum resin, whichis said to be obtained by wound- ing the stalk or root, is brought from the Levant and East In~ dies, sometimes in round drops or tears, but more commonly in a FE aie . = irregular lumps, of a reddish yellow colour onthe outside, with specks of white, inwardly of a paler colour, and frequently variegated with large white pieces. It has a peculiar strong smell, and a bitter, acrid, somewhat nauseous, taste. Neumann got from 480 parts, 166 alcoholic, and afterwards 180 watery extract; and inversely, 226 watery, and 60 alcoholic. Both the water and alcohol distilled from it were impregnated withits flavour. It forms a milky solution with water, and yields a little essential oil on distillation. Opoponax has been long employed by physicians, and esteemed for its attenuating, deobstruent, and aperient virtues; but asit is commonly prescribed in combination with other medicines, these qualities are by no means ascertained, nor do its sensible f ce) 7 4x qualities indicate it to be a medicine of much power. Dr. Cullen classes it with the antispasmodics ; it is, however, less fcetid than galbanum, though more so than ammoniacum, and therefore may be supposed to have some affinity to an union of these two. It has commonly been given in hypochondriacalaffections, visceral obstructions, menstrual suppressions, and asthmas, especially when connected with a phlegmatic habit of body. It enters into the following composition, Compounp Pinus or Gate BANUM. (Pilule Galbani Composite, L.)—Vide p. 292. ROUGH PARSNIP. OPOPONA*X. PASTINACA OPOPONAX. ——ae—— Class V. Pentandria. Fissent. Gen. Cuar. entire. Spec. Cuan. if cut out. Order 11. Digynia. A ‘ Fruit elliptic, compresso-plane : involute, Petals involute, e base, as Leaves pinnate: Leaflets on the upper part at th — DESCRIPTION. : ; , consisting Ir rises seven or eight feet. The leaves are pinnated velnet, serrated, oblong, are of several pairs of pinne, which of a yeland as if unformed at the base. The flowers are small, umbels. in s pranche and stem the e lowish colour, and terminat partial. No involucres, either general or HISTORY. south of EuThis plant is perennial, and grows wild in the |