VEGETABLE KINGDOM. I3I 



latter character is more properly applied to the Myrica riibra^ 

 or a PrniiHs. 



Antiscorbutic, laxative, stomachic, deobstruant, and altera- 

 tive properties are ascribed to these fruits. The juice is 

 used in lumbago, diarrhoea, to stop the itching of ulcers, and 

 to bring out the rash in the exanthemata of children. It 

 is considered to be peptic and stimulant, and is employed 

 in scrotal hernia and prolonged lochia! discharge. The 

 confection is eaten to assist digestion and to promote the 

 circulation of the blood. As the fruit is constantly used 

 as food, its physiological effect upon the system cannot be 

 very powerful. The seeds are recommended for hernia, difficult 

 labor, and swelling of the genitals. The wood of the -^ ^ 

 (Ch'ih-chao) is used in decoction for pruritus. The root of 

 the different species of haw is recommended for nausea and 

 vomiting. A decoction of the twigs and leaves is employed 

 in varnish poisoning. 



CRINUM SINENSIS.—^ J^ H (W8n.chu-lan). This 

 beautiful amarillidaceus plant is confounded by the Chinese 

 with orchids, and is not specially mentioned in the Pintsaa. 

 It is cultivated in China, India, and Japan, and is met with 

 in Cochiuchina, the Moluccas, and in Ceylon. Four or five 

 species are said by Burnett to be found in China. In India 

 the bulbous root, which has a terminal, stoloniferous, fusiform 

 portion issuing from the crown of the bulb, as described by 

 Dr. Waring, has an unpleasant narcotic odor. It is there 

 used in fresh slices as an emetic and diaphoretic, or the 

 root is carefully dried and reduced to powder as a substitute 

 for squills or ipecacuanha. It is said to contain a principle 

 analagous to scilitin^ the active chemical ingredient of Scilla 

 viaritima^ which so far as at present known is not met with 

 in the Far East. Dr. Waring bears testimony to the efficiency 

 of this drug. The classification is given on the authority 

 of Dr. Morrison. 



CROCUS SATIVUS.— # jfl -^ (Fan-hung-hua). Ac 

 cording to the Pentsao^ this was brought from Arabia by 

 Chang Chien, at the same time that he brought the safflower 



