34 CHINESE MATERIA MEDICA. 



These terms, together with §f "^ and ^ -^ ^, are applied to 

 dififerent plants in different parts of China, as well as in Japan ; 

 so it is almost impossible to fix identifications in any of these 

 cases. Faber gives J^]] ^ (Chih-hsien) for A7naj'a7iius 

 spinostis^ which is probably correct. Han Pao-sheng says that 

 the fruits of only the |^ ^ and the A M ^^^ "^^^ ^° medicine. 

 They are said to have great cooling properties. They are also 

 considered to have the property of brightening the intellect, 

 assisting in the excretory processes, and benefiting the virile 

 powers. The use of the plant itself is considered beneficial in 

 fluxes, while the root is used in '*cold indigestion" and in 

 toothache. The ^ ^ is said to be a small variety, also called 

 |g ^ and ^- ^, and is good for feeding pigs. Some varieties 

 of this plant are much cultivated and eaten as pot-herbs. 



AMBER— ^ JQ (Hu-p'o), 488, ^ H (Chiang-chu). 

 According to an old saying, when a tiger dies, its spirit enters 

 the earth and becomes transformed into stone of the form of 

 this substance. Therefore it is called Jf^ ^ (Hu-p'o), "tiger's 

 soul." The last character was afterwards changed to J^ i.P'o) 

 to distinguish this substance as a gem. It is supposed to be the 

 resin of an extinct species of Pimts^ for this reason given the 

 name of Pittites succinifcr. As it is closely allied to ordinary 

 resins, such an origin is very probable. It is worthy of note 

 that, equally with Pliny and many modern observers upon the 

 subject, the Chinese say it to be the resin of a pine which has 

 "laid in the earth for a thousand years." An inferior 

 quality is found in Yunnan, especially near Yungchangfu. 

 Burmah, Cambodia, Korea, and Japan are said to yield 

 supplies of the substance. But the market, formerly supplied 

 by the overland trade routes from Asia Minor, is now supplied 

 from the south, coming by the way of the Indian Archipelago, 

 and, according to Dr. Williams, from Africa. The Sanscrit 

 name is given in the Penisao as p^ f^ jp J^ ^ (A-shih-mo- 

 chieh-p'o). Pieces containing insects and other bodies are held 

 to be specially valuable. The best pieces are made into beads 

 and ornaments, which are worn by persons of rank. Much. of 

 what is oflfered for sale is fictitious, being made from colophony 

 and copal. Its reputed medical properties are very much 



