dorema ammoniacum

1 definition found

dorema ammoniacum - Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 :

  Ammoniac \Am*mo"ni*ac\(or Gum ammoniac \Gum` am*mo"ni*ac\, n.
     [L. Ammoniacum, Gr. 'ammoniako`n a resinous gum, said to
     distill from a tree near the temple of Jupiter Ammon; cf. F.
     ammoniac. See Ammonite.] (Med.)
     The concrete juice (gum resin) of an umbelliferous plant, the
     Dorema ammoniacum. It is brought chiefly from Iran in the
     form of yellowish tears, which occur singly, or are
     aggregated into masses. It has a peculiar smell, and a
     nauseous, sweet taste, followed by a bitter one. It is
     inflammable, partially soluble in water and in alcohol, and
     is used in medicine as an expectorant and resolvent, and for
     the formation of certain plasters.
     [1913 Webster + AS]