o64 JAPAN. 



o-out, but I believe with fuch little fuccefs, that the pra6lice has 

 long fince been exploded. 



A FAMOUS The Japancfe have another medicine, a powder to be taken 



internally in colicky difeafes. The inventor had the art to give 

 out that it was communicated to him in a dream by Jakufi the 

 god of phyfic, which ftamped fuch a veneration for this medicine, 

 that he enriched himfelffo greatly as to build a temple with part 

 of his gains, and the family, who keep xhenojirum to themfelves, 

 have eredted two or three more ; the chief ingredient is fuppofed 

 to be the China root, great quantities of which, and alfo of the 

 Ginfeng root, is imported into Japan for medical purpofes. 



Botany is much ftudied by the phyficians of the empire, 

 and many books are compofed on the fubjedt. Dr. Thiinberg 

 met with two phyficians at Jedo who had great knowledge, not 

 only in their own profelTion, but in botany, mineralogy., and 

 zoology. 



Catechu, The famous 'ferva Japonica or Catechu is prepared chiefly 



at Odowara ; the principal ingredient is foreign, being an ex- 

 tracft from the Mimofa Catechu'^, a fmall tree which grows in 

 great plenty on the mountains of Hindoofian, not the Areca 

 catechu, as had been long fuppofed ; we were tirft favored with 

 this difcovery by Mr. Ker, affiftant fnrgeon in Bengal : Much is 

 manufadured in the province of Bahar\ an ointment is com- 

 pofed from it of general repute throughout India, being found 

 a moft ufeful aftringent in that hot climate. It has for a great 

 length of time kept its place in our d-ifpenfutory as an efficacious 

 medicine in weaknefs of the bowels in general, and the con- 



• Woodville's Med. Bot. vol. ii. p 183. tab. 86, 



fequential 



