l6 CHINESK MATERIA MEDICA. 



is much lighter and bulkier than ginseng. The interior is 

 spongy and of a yellowish-white, and the cross-section shows a 

 cunou'^.ly plicated arrangement of the tissue, the folds radiating 

 irregularly from the center to the circumference. As the stem 

 grows older, thi'^ arrangement is less distinct. The taste is 

 bitter-sweet, sligntly cooling and demulcent. It is used largely 

 in pulmonary diseases, especially those attended by fever, and 

 as a general tc-'Ac and restorative of bodily vigor. The books 

 say the Jen-shen (A ^) is -^ restorative of the " yang " prin- 

 ciple, while Sha-shen (fp ^) restores the " yin ". 



Haing-yeh-sha-shen (^ ^ fp ^) is considered to be iden- 

 tical with Chi-ni (^ j^). The Pentsao says in regard to this 

 latter that the root is like Sha-shen k^ ^) and the leaves are 

 like the apricot ; therefore, the people of Honan call it "apricot- 

 leaved sha-shen". The plant contains a large quantity of 

 juice, which is called ^ ^ i^ ^ (Chi-ni-nung-lu), "chi-ni 

 thick dew ". The Chi-ni (^ ^) is Adenophoi^a remotifolia^ the 

 common harebell. The properties of this root are sweet and 

 cooling. It is reputed as an antidote for all kinds of medicinal 

 poisons. It also is said to be efficacious in the bites of poison- 

 ous insects and reptiles, as well as to overcome the effects of 

 arrow-poison. Virulent ulcers, poisoned wounds, and the kii 

 (jS) poison are also said to be benefited by it. As the drug 

 seems to be a simple demulcent, one does not understand how 

 it can have secured a reputation in such a wide range of 

 poisonous affections. Ti-ni (^ '^) is given as a synonym of 

 the above, but it probably is distinct, as indicated at the head 

 of this article. Similarity in general appearance of the 

 root and in medical properties may account for the Chinese 

 classification. 



Tang-shen i%^ ^\ 1251, is classed by the Phitsao with 

 true ginseng. The name comes from J: %, fShang-tang\ the 

 ancient name of Lu-an-fu in Shansi, from which one of the two 

 principal kinds of ginseng originally came. For this reason 

 the complete name is J: ^. A # (Shang-tang-jen-shen). But 

 at the present time at least Tang-shen represents Campanula- 

 ceous roots, and sometimes goes by the name of Bastard Gin- 

 seng. These roots are much more open than even the worst 

 specimens of ginseng, all of which have a much sharper 



