from
The 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]