LILIACE2E. 501 



(Chinese wood)^ In Arabic Kliashab-es-sini. The author of the 

 Makhzan-el-Adwiya has a long article upon its medicinal virtues. 

 He also notices particularly the yariable appearance of different 

 samples of the drug, and directs that what is heavy, of a rosy 

 colour, and free from knots is to be selected. He tells us that 

 the fresh root is sometimes brought to India ; some of this he 



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stem with small elongated leaves, not unlike a bamboo ; after a 

 year's time be dug it up, but found that the roots had degene- 

 rated and did not retain the qualities of the China article. 

 Chub-chini is considered by these writers to be an ti -rheumatic, 

 anti- syphilitic, aphrodisiucal, and demulcent. Loureiro says of 

 it, ^Walet in quibuscunque doloribus vagis, venereis, aut 

 rheumaticis.'' 



Ainslie [Mat^ Ind.y i., 70) notices its use in Southern India as 

 an anti-syphilitic and as a remedy of much repute in a disease 

 called maygum ixdvoOy in which the limbs are stiff and contracted. 

 He also states on the authority of the Abbe Rochon* that ^'the 

 Chinese often eat the root instead of rice, and that it contributes 

 to make them lusty." Roxburgh states that the Smilax glabra, 

 a native of Sjlhet and of the adjacent Garrow country, where it 

 IS called Hiirina-shook- China ^ has large tuberous roots, not to be 

 distinguished by the eye from China-root, and that the natives 

 of the country use a decoction of the fresh root for the cure of 

 sores and venereal complaints {Flora Inclica). This plant also 

 grows in China and affords some of the China-root of commerce. 



(Trimen's Jouni. of Bot., i., 102.) 



The reported good effects of China-root on the Emperor 

 Charles Y., who was suffering from gout, acquired for the drug 

 a great celebrity in Europe, and several works were written in 

 praise of its virtues. But though its powers were soon found to 

 tave been greatly over-rated, it still retained some reputation 

 as a sudorific and alterative, and was much used at the end of 

 the 17th century in the same way as sarsaparilla. It still 

 retains a place in some modem pharmacopoeias. {Pharmu' 



cograjpkia.) 



• Vo}age to Madagascar and the East Indies, London, 1792. 



