I04 CHINESE MATERIA MEDIC A. 



cylindrical, generally pedicellated and slightly tapering at the 

 point. They are darkish-grey in color and studded with 

 spirally arranged eminences. The taste is hot, pungent, and 

 slightly aromatic. Stimulant, stomachic, carminative, cor- 

 rective, and astringent properties are attributed to the peppers, 

 which are given in various combinations for coryza, pyrosis, 

 dysentery, cholera, violent fluxes, enlargement of the spleen, 

 menstrual disorders, and toothache. They are used in India 

 in the treatment of beri-beri. 



A derivative of this plant, called ^ ^j| ^ (Pi-p'o-mu), 

 which is probably in imitation of the Hindustani name of 

 the root, peepla-viool^ is spoken of in the Pe?itsao under the 

 heading of this same article. Its qualities are much weaker 

 than those of the fruit, but it is reputed to have the same 

 stimulant, tonic, and peptic properties. It is a much vaunted 

 remedy in the treatment of "cold" viscera and diseases 

 resulting from this condition. Barren women, whose wombs 

 are supposed to be cold, those suffering from "cold indiges- 

 tion," and certain kidney and urinary difficulties which are 

 regarded as "cold," are all to be benefited by administering 

 this drug. Dr. Waring reports its use in Travancore for 

 expediting the expulsion of the placenta. 



CHENOPODIUAI ALBUM.— J^ M. (Hui-t'iao), ^ ;^ 

 (Hui-hsien). There is the same uncertainty in the identifica- 

 tion of the Chinese names for the Chenopodiacccc that there is 

 of those for the AmarantacecB^ and for the same reason, viz : 

 the names are not uniformly applied to the same plant iu 

 different parts of China. ^ is a general term for Chenopodium, 

 and throughout the north of China Hid-f'iao is undoubtedly 

 Chenopodium albiun^ which is a very common weed there. 

 The ^ (Li) of the classics, and also the ^ (Lai), are thought 

 to be the same. It was evidently the plant which Fohien 

 saw when he returned from his journey to the Buddhist ^ 

 countries. In the account of his journey, it is said that when | 

 he landed in Shantung and saw the 1^'^% again, he knew 

 that this was the land of Han (China). The plant (stalk ; 

 and leaves) is thought to have insecticidal properties, and j 

 is used iu cases of insect stings and bites, and the expressed 



