94 CHINESE MATERIA MEDICA. 



CARPESIUM ABROTANOIDES.— 5c ^ ^| (T'len- 

 ming-ching). The seeds are called 'j^i ji]^ (Ho-sliih), "crane's 

 louse," 375. Other names are M -g- (Shih-shou) and ^g M 

 (Chi-ki), both meaning "pig's head," ^ rff^ #i (Chan-chu- 

 lan), and the people in the south call it jiji ^ (Ti-sung', 

 " ground cabbage," and Ji^ ^-^T'ien-man-ch'ing), "heavenly 

 rape," for the leaves resemble cabbage or rape leaves, and are 

 of a sweet pungent taste. The seed has a bitter, pungent taste, 

 is slightly poisonous, and is reputed to destroy insects. The 

 plant is added to the water in which silk cocoons are boiled, 

 presumably to kill the pupa. The plant bears small yellow 

 flowers, and is quite common in South and j\Iid-China. The 

 achenia which bear the seeds are awned, causing them to 

 adhere to the clothing of persons and the fur of animals in a 

 manner similar to the beggar tick. The leaves, root, and seed 

 are the parts used in medicine. The two former are regarded 

 as non-poisonous and as being identical in medical properties 

 and uses. They are employed as astringent, alterative, anti- 

 scorbutic, diuretic, expectorant, anthelmintic, vulnerary, and 

 discutient remedies, in conjunction wnth the young shoots. 

 They are specially recommended in bronchorhcea, haemoptysis, 

 and ague. The seeds, which are regarded as being slightly 

 poisonous, are principally used as an anthelmintic. They are 

 also highly recommended in ague. 



CARTHAMUS TINCTORIUS.— J^I ^ :^ (Hung-lan- 

 hna). Other names, ^X ^ (Hung-hua) and ^ ^ * Huang-Ian), 

 although this latter is possibl}' a confounding this with Crocus 

 sativus. The commercial designations are ^X ^ (Hung-hua), 

 -X^^^o, and ^ 4^ (Yao-hua), 1510 ; the former being the best 

 quality usecJ^ for dyeing, and the latter an inferior kind used as 

 a drug. The natural habitat of this plant, which is safflower^ 

 was regarded by the Chinese as Thibet. It is now extensively 

 cultivated throughout China. The famous traveler and general, 

 Chano' Chien, brought the seeds from Turkestan. The flowers 

 are extensively used for dyeing purposes and in the making of 

 rouo-e. Medicinally, they are regarded as having stimulant, 

 sedative, alterative, emmenagogue, and discutient properties. 

 On account of their red color, they are thought to have an 



