36 -W— CHINESE MATERIA MEDICA. 



nearly sphetibal", t)oint&d'at the extremities, 6 to 10 lines long. 

 The pericarp is of a^l deep dusky-brown, coriaceous, devoid of 

 hairs, beset longitudinally with interrupted ridges usually about 

 18 in number ; it has an agreeable aromatic smell and taste. 

 The seeds are obtusely angular and adhere firmly together ; they 

 are distinguished by an aromatic, bitter, myrrh-like taste." 



^^he drug is considered by the Chinese to benefit the 

 KOitiaQl:^nd>spleen,j&nd therefore to "increase knowledge;" 

 tBe disposition and wits of the individual being considered to 

 largely reside in these organs. Tonic, stomachic, cordial, 

 pectoral, and astringent properties are ascribed to these fruits 

 in the Phitsao^ but the principal use to which they are applied 

 at the present time is in the treatment of incontinence of urine, 

 nocturnal emissions, and flooding after labor. 



AMOMUM CARDAMOMUM.— ^ S ^ (Pai-tou-k'ou), 

 964. This is the ro2ind^ or chistei^^ cardamom^ and is a native 

 of the East Indies. It was evidently imported into China about 

 the eighth century, as it is first mentioned by writers of that 

 time. It is said to have been produced in a country called 

 •ftll 1& !^ (Ch'ieh-ku-lo), evidently a Buddhist country, where 

 the drug is called % ^ (To-ku). It is also known under the 

 name of ^ Jg g. ^ (Tung-p'o-tou-k'ou), after the celebrated 

 poet Su Tung-p'o, who, towards the end of the eleventh century, 

 lived for some years in the island of Hainan and wrote notices 

 of useful plants. The Afalabar cardamom^ which is sold to some 

 extent in China, and which is similar in odor and taste to this 

 cluster cardamom, also goes by the name of |^ ^ ^ (Pai-tou- 

 k'ou). The Thibetans call it sukmil^ which resembles the 

 Sanscrit ^ ^ 5^ ^ JlPI (Su-chi-mi-lo-si). 



This evergreen plant, said to resemble the banana, now 

 ■ grows in Kuangtung province. The capsules are round, 

 globular, smooth, ribbed, obscurely triangular, and of a brown- 

 ish-white color. The seeds are packed together in a globular 

 mass, easily broken into three portions, and have an aromatic, 

 terebinthinate flavor. The seeds are used in pyrosis, vomiting 

 and dyspepsia, in pulmonary diseases and in general debility. 

 It is said to be serviceable in ague, in cases of films over the 

 eye, and in disorders arising from drunken dissipation. 



