Tinctura Asafoetidae (U. S. P.)—Tincture of Asafetida.

Related entry: Asafoetida (U. S. P.)—Asafoetida

(Modern shorthand: 1:5 91 %)

Preparation.—"Asafetida, bruised, two hundred grammes (200 Gm.) [7 ozs. av., 24 grs.]; alcohol, a sufficient quantity to make one thousand cubic centimeters (1000 Cc.) [33 fl℥, 391♏]. Mix the asafetida with eight hundred cubic centimeters (800 Cc.) [27 fl℥, 25♏] of alcohol, and macerate for 7 days, in a closed vessel; then filter through paper, adding through the filter, enough alcohol to make the tincture measure one thousand cubic centimeters (1000 Cc.) [33 fl℥, 391♏]"—(U.S.P.). This tincture has a yellowish or brownish-red color. Added to water, the resin separates, and the mixture becomes whitish.

Action, Medical Uses, and Dosage.—This tincture has all the efficiency of asafetida. The dose is from 30 to 60 drops.

Related Tincture.—TINCTURA ASAFOETIDAE COMPOSITA, Compound tincture of asafetida. Take of asafetida, lupulin, stramonium seeds, bruised, valerian root, in fine powder, each, 1 ounce; alcohol, 3 pints. Macerate for 14 days; express and filter. This tincture was formerly used principally in epilepsy, though it will be found useful in hysteria, chorea, and other derangements of the nervous system. The dose is a fluid drachm, repeated every 2 or 3 hours, in severe cases, and in ordinary cases, 3 times a day, to be taken in water, tea, or wine (J. King).


King's American Dispensatory, 1898, was written by Harvey Wickes Felter, M.D., and John Uri Lloyd, Phr. M., Ph. D.