68 CHINESE MATERIA MEDICA. 



BETA VULGARIS.—^ ^ (T'ien-ts'ai), ^ ^ ^ (Chiin- 

 ta-ts'cii), and S^ % (T'ic;i-ts'ai), 1340 (?i. This is the ordinary 

 white sugar beet which grows in China. It is not mentioned 

 in the Phitsao^ nor does its medical virtues seem to have been 

 studied. This seems surprising, considering the fact that its 

 saccharine qualities are indicated iu the name. 



BETULA ALBA.— If % (Hua-mu) or \% % (Hua-mu), 

 498. This is the White Birch tree which grows commonly 

 in the mountains of Northern China. The bark is used by 

 Chinese saddlers, shoemakers, cutlers, and candle-makers, who 

 turn its tanning or fatty principles to account in their several 

 trades. The bark may also be used for torches. The drug is 

 used iu decoction for jaundice and bilious fevers, and the 

 incinerated bark is used as an application in mammary cancer 

 and rodent ulcer. It is also one of the substances used to dye 

 the whiskers, which, developing late in life iu the Chinese, are 

 apt to soon turn grey or reddish-brown. 



BIDENS PARVIFLORA.— ^ 1^ -$. (Kuei-chen-ts'ao). 

 This "imp's needle grass" is a species of '•''Spanish needles.'''' 

 In the south it is called %, %X (Kuei-ch'ai), " imp's hairpin." 

 The only purposes for which this is prescribed, are in bites of 

 spiders, snakes, and scorpions, and in the unhealthy granula- 

 tions of wounds. The juice is expressed from the fresh plant, 

 and both administered internally and applied externally. 



BIDENS TRIPARTITA. — H ^ ^ (Lang-pa-ts'ao). 

 The characters are also written % ^. This has three-lobed 

 leaves and a two awned achene. It grows in the marshes of 

 elevated regions. It affords a black dye, which is used for 

 coloring the whiskers. A decoction of the plant is specially 

 recommended in the treatment of chronic dysentery, aud as a 

 wash to the skin in the treatment of chronic eczema. 



BIGNONIA GRANDIFLORA.— ^ ^ (Tzu-wei), P^ ^ 

 (Ling-t'iao\ and ^ % {^ (Ling-hsiao4ma). This is a beauti- 

 ful climbing plant, which is much cultivated in gardens 

 throughout China. At Peking it is known by the last name. 



