Cast Iron: An Invention of Ancient China. By Karin Alsop, Claire Deng, & Karen Kwan. A drawing of an early blast furnace. inventor unknown. earliest cast iron artifact found in Jiangsu. Mass-production began in the Han dynasty. At the time of its invention, cast iron had many uses. Since the discovery of steel, iron (both cast and wrought) has become less common, as steel is generally stronger. Cast iron is still used in buildings, although they are usually older or decorative ones.
Asafoetida /aesÉËfÉtÉ¨dÉ/ Ã¦sÉËfÉtÉ¨dÉ is the dried (latex gum) oleoresin exuded from the rhizome or tap root of several species Of, ferula a perennial herb that grows 1 to.1 5 (m.3 3 to.4 9) ft. Tall the species is native to the deserts Of, iran mountains Of, afghanistan and is mainly cultivated in Nearby. india Asafoetida reduces the growth of indigenous microflora in the gut, reducing flatulence. 2  In the Jammu region of India, asafoetida is used as a medicine for flatulence and constipation by 60% of locals.
Today, the most commonly available form is compounded asafoetida, a fine powder containing 30% asafoetida resin, along with rice flour or maida (wheat flour) and gum arabic. Ferula assafoetida is a monoecious, herbaceous, perennial plant of the family Apiaceae.