VEGETABLE KINGDOM. 93 



The root is first prepared by decortication, and tlien soaking in 

 wine over night. After this, it is dried and pnlverized for use. 

 It is said by some to be slightly poisonous, and by others to not 

 be so. The effectiveness of the twelve hours' soaking in 

 wine would probably explain the difference in these observa- 

 tions. It is considered to be alterative and anodyne. It is 

 used in the treatment of rheumatism, both articular and 

 muscular, and is thought to have special curative properties in 

 the kan disease of children. Epithelioma and rodent ulcer are 

 amongf the thing:s for which it is recommended. 



CAREX MACROCEPHALA. — |^- [f (Shih-ts«ao). 

 Called also |£j ¥^ "^ (Tz'u-jan-ku), " sponlaneous grain, " and 

 •3i ^ 'fl (Yii-yii-liang. ) It is not to be confounded with the 

 so-called eagle stonc^ which bears the latter name. It is an 

 edible grain-fruit, growing in the eastern islands, but not found 

 in China. It ripens in the seventh month, and is gathered by 

 the people until winter. It is considered to be very nutritions, 

 and is recommended as a constructive food in malnutrition. It 

 is said to prevent nausea, and is recommended in anorexia. Its 

 prolonged use produces great bodily strength. 



CARICA PAPAYA.— This, the papazv or tree melon, 

 which is native of tropical America, has been introduced and 

 is now cultivated in South China and other tropical parts of 

 the Far East. The name by which it has been called at 

 Canton is /fc JIS. (Mu-kua), which is a translation of "tree 

 melon." But this is the name which is used in the Pentsao 

 and classics for the quince (Cydonia sinensis). lyoureiro found 

 that the papaw was also called ;^ ^ |^ (Wan-shou-kuo), 

 "longevity fruit." Another name by which it is sometimes 

 known in the south is :g^ JR (Fan-kua), "foreign melon". 

 Still another name is ;^ /£ (Shu-kna), which is an alternative 

 way of saying "tree melon." Certainly 7l^ J^ cannot be used 

 for it in the north, where the quince, which has no other 

 designation, is so extensively grown. Although so recently 

 introduced into China, the Chinese, where the papaw is grown, 

 have learned to appreciate its property of rendering meat 

 tender, as well as its alimentary and medicinal qualities. 



