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Archiver > TNWEAKLE > 2005-03 > 1109799372


From: "Gary and Carolyn Storie" <>
Subject: RE: [TnWeakle] Assaphidita?
Date: Wed, 2 Mar 2005 13:36:12 -0800
In-Reply-To: <004701c51f6b$bf3c29c0$0500000a@Accounting.local>


It is correctly spelled Asafetida, and is an herb used for bronchitis and
whooping cough. It has a very acrid smell and a very bitter taste.

Remember Tennessee Ernie Ford talking about his "asafititie bag" that he
wore around his neck? I remember it from an old I Love Lucy episode.

Carolyn Storie


-----Original Message-----
From: PJ Thompson [mailto:]
Sent: Wednesday, March 02, 2005 1:07 PM
To:
Subject: [TnWeakle] Assaphidita?

You need to read my story on the Weakley Web Site "Laying-a-crospe"
..........and yes they used Assaphidita (don't think this is spelled correct
but not sure.)........pj




> Sorry to bring up a sordid subject, but my father was telling me that in
his
> early youth, in the 20s, embalming the deceased was fairly unknown.
Instead,
> they tried to bury as quickly as possible, and they used something he
called
> "assaphidita" on the corpse to delay decay, or cover up odor, or both. I
am
> guessing at the spelling of this material, has anyone ever heard of it, or
know
> what it was composed of? He says that it had a very strong smell, that
was
> always associated with death.
>
> Anybody have any ideas on this one?
>
> David
>




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