VEGETABLE KINGDOM. 70 



relationship to other Cacsalpinioc by calling it ^ (or yfC) % ^, 

 "wild (or water) honey locust." Other names for the fruit 

 are 5^ g CT'ien-tou) and ^ M. ( j\Ia-tou). The stem is hollow 

 and spiny ; it bears yellow flowers in racemes and a pod about 

 three inches long, containing five cr six dark colored seeds, 

 which have an unpleasaut odor. The seeds, flowers, and root 

 are used in medicine. Although the Pcntsao discusses this 

 among the poisonous drugs, it is not considered to be poisonous. 

 The seeds are said to have astringent, anthelmintic, antipvretic, 

 and anti-malarial properties. They are said to be used for the 

 most part in the treatment of ague. To the flowers are 

 attributed certain occult properties. If one ingests a quantity 

 of them and then sees a spirit, he is driven mad. If burned 

 they will drive away evil spirits. In former times their use 

 was supposed to produce somatic Icvitation, but this is now 

 denied by Li Shih-chen. The expressed juice of the root is 

 used to assist in the removal of a bone from the throat, and it 

 is also thought to be anodyne in such cases. 



CAJANUS INDICUS.— iJj IX\ ^ (Shan-tou-kC-nV This 

 genus seems to be confined to Eastern Asia. The common 

 name adopted by Europeans is "pigeon pea." The East 

 Indian names are cajan and dahl ; the ]\Ialay name, clichang. 

 In the Phitsao it is also called JH ^ (Chieh-tu) ; and on 

 another page an almost identical description is given under the 

 heading of ^ ^ -^ (Chieh-tu-tzii). This may therefore be 

 regarded as identical with, or very closely related to, the Shan- 

 iou-ktn. In both cases the root is the part used in medicine 

 (1104). This appears in the Chinese shops as a woody root, 

 varying from the size of the little finger to mere rootlets ; the 

 whole being connected by a knotted root-stock. Rats and 

 mice are said to be fond of this root. It is considered to be the 

 counter-poison par excellence. Anthelmintic, sedative, ex- 

 pectorant, and vulnerary properties are also referred to it. 



CALAMUS DRACO, —lit ^ % (Ch'i-lin-chieh), also 

 called j^ J^j (Hsiieh-chieh), 477. This tree, growing in 

 Sumatra, Java, and other countries to the south of China, is 

 said also to be met with in the southern provinces. The 



