iri CHINESE MATERIA MEDIC A. 



(To-chia-lo-hslang), tt f'f ^ (Tu-hi-hsiang), and Jp 1^ ^ 

 (Mo-le-lisiang). The second of the above terms may be the 

 Chinese equivalent of the Sanscrit fog-ara, meaning "perfume," 

 and the third an adaptation of the Sanscrit ktindtirti^ which is 

 the term by which olibanum was known in that language. 

 Li Shih-chen says that it is sometimes adulterated with storax^ 

 but at the present time that is not probable, as olibanum is 

 much more plentiful, and therefore cheaper than formerly. 

 That it has sometimes been confounded with, and possibly 

 adulterated with sandarac^ is well known to Western pharma- 

 cists. The drug, as it appears in the Chinese market, is in the 

 usual form of pale yellow, oval, partly opaque, brittle tears, 

 having the bitter, aromatic taste, and balsamic smell character- 

 istic of this substance. Very inferior kinds are also found in 

 the shops. It is used in the manufacture of some sorts of in- 

 cense. Carminative, sedative, tonic, stimulant, alterative, astrin- 

 gent, and diuretic properties are referred to this drug, which is 

 used to some extent in making plasters and salves for dressing 

 carbuncles and foul chronic sores. It is used internally 

 in leprosy and struma. Indian practitioners have largely 

 used it as a remedy for carbuncle, as an internal agent 

 in the treatment of gonorrhoea, and as a fumigation in lung 

 affections. Some of the older writers recommended it for 

 spermatorrhoea, and for certain vesical and urinary disorders, 

 for which it is worth a trial. 



BOYMIA RUT^CARPAorEVODIA RUT^CARPA.— 

 ^ ^ Vi. (Wu-chu-yu), 223. This is a small tree or shrub, 

 bearing small, purplish-red flowers and a fruit which at first is 

 yellow, but when it is ripe, turns to a dark purple. The Pentsao 

 says that formerly the tree was planted at the side of a well, so 

 that the leaves might fall into the water. To drink of the water 

 was considered to be prophylactic against contagious diseases. 

 The fruits were also hung up in the house to ward off evil 

 spirits. The fruits, leaves, branches, and root with the white 

 rind, are all used in medicine. In the case of the fruits as found 

 in the markets, the small black carpels are usually separated 

 from their pedicles, are five in number, closely connected and 

 mixed with the scabrous stalks of the umbellate inflorescence. 



