asa

[Mod. Lat. asa; corrupted from Cla . Lat. laser, gen it. laser is (1) the juice of the plant Laserpitium a afœtid a, (2) the plant itself. In Pers. aza is mastic; and in Arab. asû is = healing, isd = a remedy.] The name of a gum. asa dulcis. [ Lit. = sweet asa, as opposed to asa fætid a = fetid asa.] Benzoine (q.v.). asa fœtid a. [ASAFETIDA.] as-a-fet-i-da, as-a-foot-i-dạ, ăs-safœt-i-da, as-a foot-i-da (œ = ě), s . [In Ger. a afatida ; Sp. asa fetid a . From Mod. Lat. asa (q.v.), and Cla ical Lat. fœtid a = fetid, having a bad smell.] 1. The English name of two, if not more, plants growing in Persia, the Ferula asafatide IMG:content-0783.png:[graphic][merged small] and the F. Persica. They belong to the order Apiaceæ, or Umbellifers. 2. The drug made from them. Old plants being cut acro , juice exudes from the wound. This, being scraped off, is exposed to the sun to harden it, and is sent in large irregular ma es to this country for sale. It is a useful medicine in hysteria, asthma, tympanites, dyspnœa, pertu is, and worms; it is sometimes given also as a clyster.