62 CHINESE MATERIA MEDICA. 



to be identical with those of olibanum. It is regarded as an 

 alterative and sedative, and, as formerly in the west, is used in 

 the treatment of wounds and ulcers. It is thought to be 

 especially useful in uterine discharges and in vicious lochise ; 

 also in the treatment of a disease resembling hysterical mania. 

 Loureiro mentions a j^ ^ fjlj (Mu-yao-yu), "oil of myrrh," 

 which is used in Cochin China for the dressing of ulcers. It 

 is reddish in color, and has the smell of myrrh. It does not 

 seem to be known in China. 



There is also found in the drug shops of China a substance 

 called f|?| ^ ^ (Chia-mu-yao), which is East India Bciellhim. 

 This is supposed to be the product of Bahamodendron iimkiil^ 

 or Bahaviodendroii roxburgJin. It is imported into China 

 from India, and Dr. Williams says that the drug appearing in 

 the Chinese market is much adulterated. According to Dr. 

 Waring, good Bdelluun occurs in roundish, dark-red pieces, 

 softer than myrrh and much less agreeable in taste and smell. 

 It does not respond to the tests for myrrh, but is said to answer 

 all of the purposes of that drug. It is an excellent stimulant 

 for the chronic ulcers so commonly found throughout the east. 

 Its Indian name is giigul. 



B AMBUS A. — The number of species of bamboo to be 

 found in China, included under the genera Bambiisa^ Arundi- 

 naria^ and PJiyllostachys^ is doubtless very large. Riviere 

 enumerates twenty-three coming from the region of Hongkong 

 and Canton alone. The largest bamboos are found in Hupeh, 

 Szechuan, and Chekiang. Marco Polo made mention of the 

 large ones of the last named province. An interesting bamboo 

 is the Phyllostachys nigra^ which is a dwarf and has a black 

 stem. Attaining to not more than the height of a man, it is 

 cut down and used for walking-sticks and parasol handles. 



Owing to the fact that the bamboo flowers and fruits only 

 once in from thirty to sixty years, very little has been done in 

 China as yet towards its systematic classification. Rather more' 

 has been done in Japan, but even there this work is still far 

 from complete. The fj" |f (Chu-p'u, "Treatise on Bamboos"), 

 which was published in the 3rd or 4th century, is an interest- 

 ing and tolerably complete account of the bamboo, the names 



