VEGETABI.E KINGDOM. I45 



DAPHNIDIUMMYRRHA.--,^|||(Wii-yao), 1478. Also 

 called Lindera strychnifolia^ which is probably identical. In 

 Japan this last is distinguished as 5c "a .^ 1^ (T'ien-t'ai-wu- 

 yao), which is also known as Daphnidium strychnifoliiim, 

 Tatarinov called this tree DapJinis viyrrha^ but like many 

 of Tatarinov' s identifications, the term is open to doubt. The 

 tree grows to the height of ten or more feet, and is found 

 in the provinces south of the Yangtse, and especially in 

 Kuangsi. The drug is usually sold in the form of thin slices 

 of the dried root, which are of a whitish color, and have 

 an aromatic odor. Tonic, astringent, carminative, stomachic, 

 and many other properties are assigned to this root, and it is 

 prescribed in indigestion, malaria, fluxes, hernia, urinary 

 difficulties, menorrhagia, and gonorrhoea. Mixed with lign- 

 aloes, ginseng, and licorice, it forms a famous prescription, 

 which is used as a tonic and sedative. The leaf buds of 

 the plant may be used instead of tea as a stimulant and 

 diuretic. The seeds are used in cases in which the yin is 

 in excess producing fever. They are bruised and decocted, 

 and the decoction freely drunk, which will induce perspira- 

 tion, when the yang will return in full force and the patient 

 convalesce. 



DATURA ALBA.— ^ P£ ^ (Man-t*o-lo). In India the 

 Sanscrit equivalent of this Chinese name, Mandara^ refers 

 to E}'ythrina indica. Hoffman and Schultes have identified 

 the plant so called in China as Datura alba^ although Eitel 

 (Handbook of Chinese Buddhism, p. 71) also refers the name 

 to Erythrina fiilgans^ or Erythrina indica. The leaves of 

 the plant contain the alkaloid daturia^ which is similar in 

 physiological action to atropia, but much stronger. In India 

 the plant is called Dhatura^ from which name the generic 

 term is derived. The plant was said to have been rained down 

 from heaven at the time when Buddha promulgated the law. 

 The Sanscrit term means ''variegated,'* evidently referring to 

 the color of the flowers. Names given as equivalents in the 

 Phttsaa are Jg, ^ 5£ (Feng-ch'ieh-erh) and [Ii jfjfi % (Shan- 

 ch'ieh-erh). It is certain that the Chinese confound the 

 different species of Datura^ and that the first ©f the latter 



