12 CHINESE MATERIA MEDICA. 



period before tliey are placed on the market. As is the case 

 with most drugs having strong physiological properties these 

 aconites are prescribed for the widest variety of bodily disorders. 

 A simple list of the diseases for which they are recommended 

 would include most of the disorders to which flesh is heir. 

 They are considered to be stimulant, diaphoretic, diuretic, 

 arthritic, sedative, alterative, and deobstruent. They are 

 accordingly used in fevers, ague, rheumatism, nervous disorders, 

 neuralgias and all sorts of painful conditions, dropsy, cholera, 

 and are considered to be specially efficacious in the many forms 

 of dysentery found in Chinese nosology. Conditions considered 

 to result from the disturbance in the balance between the dual 

 principles are differently affected by the different varieties of 

 this plant. For instance, if the " yin " (|^) is deficient, or the 

 " yang " i[JJ) in excess, Wu-t'ou {^ B^) is the one to be 

 employed ; but if the opposite condition exists then T'ien- 

 hsiung ( 5c ^) should be administered. This seems, at least, to 

 be in harmony with the sexuality of these plants. 



ACORUS. — The character ch'ang (^") is applied in China 

 and Japan to the genus Acorics^ of which several species, 

 including the common sweet flag (Acorns calamus)^ are found 

 in Eastern Asia. The character p'u (-/[If) is defined by Kang 

 Hsi as "a rush suitable for making mats". This character 

 might be suggested as a distinctive term for the order of 

 Juncacecs. Owing to the aquatic habit of the principle rep- 

 resentative of the genus both the Pentsao and Kang Hsi classify 

 the Acorns with the rush family. Hence Ch'ang-p'u (^' y^), 

 " Acorus rush ". Of the different varieties oi Acorns the two 

 characters ^ y|f, 29, seem to be reserved for Acorus terrcstris^ 

 while the Acorus calamus is shui-ch'ang-p'u (jjIC ^ fif j and the 

 Acorus graminens is shih-ch'ang-p'u {^S M W\ ii39- Another 

 variety known as ch'ang-jung (^ ^), 28, ^^ Acorus okra''\ and 

 pai-ch'ang (j^ ^) is the Acorus spurius. The leaf of the 

 latter is described as without a raid-rib, which probably means 

 that it does not have the elevated ridge on the leaves common 

 to the other varieties. Its rhizome is not considered to be 

 edible, and it is used in medicine only as an insecticide and an 

 antipruritic. 



