4 CHINKSE MATERIA MEDIC A. 



grey bark mottled with yellowish-white, and having thorns 

 on the branches. The bark and leaves of this tree are recom- 

 mended for insecticide purposes and for the treatment of skin 

 disease and all sorts of ulcers and infected sores. The Customs 

 Reports say that the substance known as ^ ;j^ ^ (Hai-t'ung- 

 P'i)' 357' or ;j:ls) J^ (T'ung-p'i), 1402, is probably in part the 

 bark of this tree ; that exported from Ningpo being so con- 

 sidered, while that exported from Canton is thought to be the 

 bark of the cotton tree. See Bovibax malabariaun and 

 Catalpa. 



ACANTHOPANAX SPINOSUM. — 35. *n (Wu-chia), 

 5. 5^0 i^ (Wu-chia-p'i), 1449. This is probably the proper 

 identification of the shrub or tree which produces this drug. 

 But, without doubt, the product found upon the market comes 

 from a number of Araliaceous plants, allied to angelica, 

 spikenard, and sarsaparilla. So we find it classed by Tatarinov 

 ^S'^ylralm pahttata^ and by Henry identified as Eletttherococctis 

 He^iryi and Eleutherococcus leucorrhizus ; and, in addition to 

 these latter the Customs Reports mention Elciit/wi'ococcus 

 senticosus. Indeed, in the Chinese books it is described by 

 some as a tree or shrub, and by others as a climbing plant. 

 One observer wisely says that the plant which grows in the 

 north in sandy soil is a tree, while that which grows in the 

 south in hard soil is an herbaceous pla-atj^ The Pentsao^ 

 following the Peiitsaoching of Shennung, classes it among 

 the trees. 



The part used is the cortex of the root. It is found on the 

 markets as yellowish-brown quilled pieces, odorless and 

 tasteless. It is specially recommended in rheumatism, general 

 debility, and for the cure of tertiary syphilitic manifestations. 

 It is usually prescribed as a tincture. 



ACERANTHUS SAGITTATUS.— f^ ^ ^ (Yin-yang- 

 huo), 1536. This is identical with Epimedinm sagittattiDi . It 

 is a Berberidaceous plant said to have strong aphrodisiac 

 properties. Goats eating the plant are said to be incited to 

 excessive copulation, hence the Chinese name. It is commonly 

 called lilj ^ flf. (Hsien-ling-p'i), and grows in mountain valleys 



