Asafoetida. A gum-resin obtained from the root of Ferula narthex Boissier, and of Ferula foetida (Bunge) Regel (Nat. Ord. Umbelliferae). Asafoetida, Fr.; Teufelsdreck, Ger.

Emulsum Asafoetidae

Asafoetida-mixture. (Asafoetida, 40 grm. to 1,000 c. c. of water.) Dose, oz ss. — oz ij.

Tinctura Asafoetidae

Tincture of asafoetida. (Asafoetida, 200 grm., and alcohol sufficient to make 100 c. c.) Dose, 3 ss. — 3 ij-

Pillulae Asafoetidae

Pills of asafoetida. (Asafoetida and soap.) Each pill contains about three grains of asafoetida. Dose, 1—4 pills

Pilulae Aloes et Asafoetidae

Pills of aloes and asafoetida. (Asa-foetida, aloes, soap.) Does, 1—4 pills.

Pilulae Galbani Composites

Compound pills of galbanum. (Asafcetida, galbanura, and myrrh.) Dose, 1—4 pills.

Composition

About one half of the gross constituents of asafoetida consists of resin. This is not wholly soluble in chloroform or ether. It contains a peculiar acid (ferulaic acid). Asafoetida also contains a sulphureted and phosphureted volatile oil, in the proportion of from three to five per cent. This oil is at first neutral, but becomes acid by exposure to the air, and evolves sulphureted hydrogen. It possesses in a high degree the disagreeable odor of the drug.

Asafoetida also contains malic acid, and acetic, formic, and valerianic acids are products of the watery distillation. There is sufficient gum present also to form an emulsion with water.

Antagonists and Incompatibles

Acids, neutral salts, cold, and arterial sedatives, oppose the action of asafoetida.

Synergists

The gum-resins, the balsams, and the aromatics, essential oils containing sulphur and phosphorus, and alcohol and ether, promote the physiological and therapeutical activity of asafoetida.

Physiological Actions

Asafoetida possesses an extremely characteristic odor, and a pungent, rather hot, and faintly acrid taste. It excites by its presence in the fauces an increased flow of saliva. It stimulates secretion from the gastro-intestinal mucous membrane, pro- motes the appetite, improves digestion, and increases peristalsis. The faeces are somewhat softer, and are very offensive from the presence in them of sulphur and phosphorus compounds, resulting from the decomposition of the essential oil. In large quantity asafoetida causes nausea, vomiting, and purging. The active principle (the essential oil) undoubtedly slowly diffuses into the blood, for the odor of it is detectable in the sweat and breath. Increased action of the heart, a higher temperature of the surface (subjectively, at least), more or less diaphoresis, and diuresis, have been observed to follow its medicinal administration. It acts as a gentle stimulant to the brain, induces a feeling of well-being, increases the flow of ideas, and causes, as the author has observed in one case, certainly, sufficient exhilaration of a pleasant kind to be regarded as an intoxicant.

Asafoetida is eliminated by the skin, intestinal and bronchial mucous membrane, and in small part by the kidneys. The functions of all these organs are increased in activity by the local stimulant effect. Partly due to the general rise of arterial pressure which it produces, partly to its local action in the process of elimination, and partly to its phosphorus compounds, asafoetida increases the menstrual flux, and, in both sexes, the venereal appetite.

Therapy

Asafoetida is used in the country of its habitat as a condiment. A little—very little—rubbed on the gridiron, improves the flavor of beefsteak. If it were not for its intolerable odor, and for the horrible eructations which follow its use, even when disguised in a sugar-coated pill, it would be much employed as a stomachic tonic in atonic dyspepsia, accompanied by torpor of the intestines. For the flatulent colic of infants no remedy is better than mistura asafoetidae, which may be given in tea spoonful doses. It is especially in the flatu-lence of hysteria and hypochondriasis that this remedy is serviceable. It expels the flatus, promotes intestinal secretion and digestion, and relaxes the bowels. In this way the mind is relieved, for the action of asafoetida extends beyond this improvement in the state of the chylopoictic viscera — it induces a condition of mental cheerfulness which takes the place of the abnormal mobility of hysteria, and of the gloom of hypochondriasis.

The official pill of aloes and asafoetida is an excellent combination for the relief of constipation, when associated with amenorrhoea. It is adapted, of course, to those cases in which there is a condition of anaemia rather than of plethora, and in which there exists a state of torpor of the ovaries, as well as of the intestinal canal. These conditions existing, the combined pill of aloes and asafoetida is indicated whether hysteria be present or not.

The chronic scaly eruptions, chronic eczema, etc., especially when the skin is dry and harsh, are much improved by the persistent use of asafoetida.

Bronchorrhoea, bronchitis after the acute symptoms have subsided, the cough maintained by habit which may succeed the whooping-cough, and the sympathetic cough of mothers whose children are experiencing whooping-cough, are greatly benefited by asafoetida. Rx Mist, asafoeti-dae, oz; ammonii muriat., 3 j. M. Sig.: A table poonful as necessary.

Asafoetida, which was formerly much prescribed in asthma, whooping-cough, and other neuroses of the respiratory organs, has been supplanted by more efficient remedies.

The disagreeable odor of asafoetida, which is a bar to its employment in many of the diseases to the treatment of which it is very well suited, is not an objection to its use in hysteria, hypochondriasis, and epilepsy. The moral effect of its repulsive odor is not without influence in the psychic realm. But the effect of asafoetida is not simply on the imagination of the patient; it has constituents of very positive quality, which impress the brain. Hence the utility of asafoetida to arrest the hysterical paroxysm, and to relieve the numerous maladies in which the hysterical constitution disports itself. The remarks already made in regard to the action of asafoetida on the digestive functions in hypochondriacal subjects, render it unnecessary to speak more at length on the use of this remedy in hypochondriasis. Asafoetida is no longer employed in the treatment of epilepsy, except in the so-called hystero-epilepsy. The convulsions of childhood, from reflex irritation, are sometimes relieved by this remedy, but it is entirely without utility in convulsions arising from renal or cerebral disease.