134 CHINESE MATERIA MEDICA. 



bearing children^ at present their only fnnction in Chinese 

 society. According to Henry, Angelica polyniiorpJia is the 

 source of the drug Tang-knei exported from Ichang and 

 Hankow. 



CRYPTOMERIA.— >t^ (Shan). This name is nowadays 

 applied to this and perhaps to other coniferous trees. Henry 

 claims that in Hupeh some of the many '■'■ Shan'''' trees 

 are undoubtedly Cryptomeria japoitica^ and in Japan this 

 character is used for CryptomeHa. But the Shan tree of 

 the ancient Chinese authors, and the one which is particularly 

 discussed in medical works, is CuniiijigJiantia si7iensis^ and will 

 be referred to under that title. 



CUCUAHS MELO. — t JR (Kan-kua), ^^ )^ (TMen-kua), 

 ^ JK. (Yiieh-kua), |g JJSL (Shao-kua), and % JJS;. (Hsiang-kua). 

 %. (Kua) is a general term for the fruits of cucurbitaceous 

 plants. The Chinese divide these into two classes ; one called 

 H JK. (Kuo-kua), including musk melons and water melons, 

 and the other called ^ ]%, (Ts'ai-kna), comprising cucumbers, 

 squashes, pumpkins^ gourds, and the like. This plant is 

 probably indigenous to China, and the first name above given 

 is the old name, which has been superseded by the second, 

 which at present is more colloquial. The third name 

 indicates the probable original habitat of the plant, the present 

 province of Chekiang. Several varieties are found in different 

 parts of the empire ; some being almost mealy when ripe, while 

 others are firm and more like a encumber in texture. None 

 are so juicy as the western kinds, but all have more or less 

 of an aromatic flavor and fragrance. Some are quite small and 

 egg-shaped, while others are longer and more cucumber-like. 

 The skin varies from a bright yellow, through greenish yellows, 

 to a pure green, being sometimes striped in darker shades. In 

 accordance with the Chinese classification, and on account of 

 the variation of these melons in texture, the Pentsao discusses 

 these under two separate headings : the |§ jrjj^ (Yiieh-kua), under 

 the classification of vegetables, and the $^ ^ (T'ien-kua), 

 under that of fruits. The eating of these melons is regarded 

 by the Chinese as somewhat deleterious. As they usually eat 



