CHINESE MATERIA MEDICA 39 



this is the variety most commonly met with throughout the 

 extreme north-west of China and the contiguous Thibetan 

 regions. From Tachienlu are exported considerable quantities 

 of a second-grade rhubarb, which is mainly derived from 

 R. officinale, although the variety tanguticum also occurs 

 sparingly in that neighbourhood. Other species of Rheum 

 grow in the west, and are used as adulterants. In north- 

 western Hupeh R. officinale occurs in the forests, and is also 

 cultivated by the peasants, but the quality of the drug is very 

 poor. The so-called " Tangut regions" enjoy a dry, sunny 

 climate, and curing the drug is a much easier task than in 

 the other districts mentioned. This also probably affects the 

 quality. In China, rhubarb is valued as a purgative, and is 

 employed in the same way as in the Occident. 



The best liquorice, " Kan-tsao " (Sweet-herb), is also a 

 product of the grasslands north-west of Sungpan ; inferior kinds 

 grow elsewhere in China. The source of the Sungpan product 

 has been identified as Glycyrrhiza uralensis. It is valued as an 

 emollient, and small quantities enter into nearly every pre- 

 scription intended for internal application. The drug known in 

 the vernacular as " Ch'ung-tsao " is a caterpillar infested with 

 the mycelium and the projecting fructification of a Fungus 

 {Cordyceps sinensis). This is another valued product of the 

 western uplands, where it is found at from 12,000 to 15,000 

 feet altitude. The body of the caterpillar is yellowish, the 

 fructification of the fungus black, the two together being stick- 

 like in appearance and about 5 inches in length. As a medi- 

 cine it is esteemed for a variety of purposes — boiled with pork 

 it is employed as an antidote for opium-poisoning and as a 

 cure for opium-eating ; also with pork and chicken it is taken 

 as a tonic and mild stimulant by convalescent persons, and 

 rapidly restores them to health and strength. 



The tiny white bulbs of the Fritillary {Fritillaria Roylei, 

 and other alHed species), known as " Pei-mu " or " Jen Pei-mu," 

 constitute one of the most highly valued medicines from the 

 alpine regions of the west, where the plants grow at from 

 12,000 to 15,000 feet altitude. Large quantities of this drug are 

 exported from Monkong Ting and Tachienlu. The bulbs are 

 pounded, then boiled with dried orange skin and sugar. The 



