Galbanum

Galbanum, a gum-resin, used in medicine in the same cases as asafœtida. It is met with in hardened drops or tears, usually compacted into a mass, of a brown to light-green translucent colour, and possessing an aromatic odour and bitter alliacaceous taste. Galbanum contains about 7 per cent. of volatile oil, besides resin and gum. It is applied as a plaster to indolent swellings, and occasionally administered as a stimulating expectorant, and in amenorrhœa and chronic rheumatism. Although known from earliest times, and used as an incense by the Israelites (Ex. xxx. 34), under the name of chelbenah, its source has always been uncertain. There seems to be little doubt, however, that it is obtained from the Ferula Galbaniflua and F. rubricaulis, umbelliferous plants found in Persia.