VEGETABLE PBODUCTIOFS FROM CHINA. 1(55 



as also with a portion of an authentic specimen of Schweinitz, 

 show that they are all identical. The structure varies a little 

 with age, and in Horaninow's specimens there are abundant very 



To procure it, a plot of ground is cleared and probed with an iron barbed 

 instrument. Should any Fuh-ling be there, it will be impossible to puU out 

 the instrument again, except by digging about it. 



[Under this heading some legends are given, which it is needless to translate, 

 as they would be unintelligible, and (as the author hints regarding one) are 

 treated with little faith.] 



Five forms of Fuh-ling are mentioned as of medicinal use, viz. : — 



1. Ordinary Fuh-Hng. 



2. Eed Fuh-ling. 



3. Fuh-Hng bark. 



4. Fuh-shin. 



5. Shin-muh or Hwang -shin-tsoh, a rare species found in the heart of the 

 Fuh-shin : one of its names signifies Yellow-fir-Tcnot. 



In the preparation of this medicinal plant, whoever uses the bark must put 

 away the heart of the Fuh-Hng, then pound the bark smaU m a basin of water, 

 take off the scum and filter the water. An erroneous appHcation of this may 

 prove hurtful to the eye. To make it into powders or piUs, let it be boiled 

 thoroughly two or three times, and then dried. 



Its taste and smeU are agreeable, and not poisonous. 



The class of diseases for which it is used are, to sum them up generally, pains 

 in the chest, severe ague, great debility, depression of spirits, stoppage of urine, 

 want of sleep, excess of phlegm, dropsy, afiections of the kidneys, violent retch- 

 ing, rheumatism, infantile convulsions, fatigue in body and mind, dysentery, 

 disease in the groin, and female complaints. 



^/jfc^ -^^^^ ^^oo-ling, derives its name, first, from its resemblance in colour 



to the faeces of the pig (Choo) ; and secondly, from its being found lying here and 

 there as droppings from the tree upon which it is parasitic. Its other names 

 indicate the same, viz. 



"^^Rx ^^^ >^ Kia-choo-sJie^ HteraUy Hog's-dung, 

 ■^ N^ASAe-^oA, literally Pi/*-ew^miZ5? 



l:rfj jp j?OK Te-woo-taou^ HteraUy Earth-walnuts. 



The foUowing is an abridged summary of the opinions of various Chinese 

 observers relative to the Choo-Hng, 



It is found principally on the heights and valleys of Hang-shan *, as also in 

 Shuh-chow and Seih-chow. 



It is picked up in spring and autumn. It is a parasite on the Fung-shoo 

 tree \_AcacicB sp. ?], though also found upon other trees. It much resembles 

 the Fuh-ling. 



The skin of the Choo-Hng is black, but the flesh is white and firm. It can 

 be used only after scraping off this skin. In preparing it for medicinal pur- 



* [Either in the province of Kiang-nan, or in that of Hoo-nan.] 



