vp:getablk kingdom. 153 



by the process employed in the preparation of this product. In 

 addition to the properties already described, anthelmintic, 

 restorative, expectorant, and anti-hemorrhagic virtues are as- 

 cribed, and it is recommended in virulent sores and ulcers. It is 

 also said to be an antidote to wood-oil poison. Another form 

 of the dried fruit is the ^ |^ (Wu-shih), which is prepared by 

 drying in the heat and smoke of a fire. This is not to be 

 confounded, as does Porter Smith, with ^ /JC (Wu-mu), which 

 is Maba cboios (see that article). This form of the persimmon 

 is prescribed as an anthelmintic, in wounds as an anodyne, to 

 check fluxes, and to prevent nausea after taking other medi- 

 cines. |f|[ \% (Lin-shih) are preserved persimmons, and are of 

 two kinds : those kept over by being simply covered with water, 

 and those preserved in salt. The former are considered to be 

 cooling, while the latter are said to be sligiitly poisonous. 

 They are regarded as being beneficial to the spleen and stomach, 

 and to dissolve stagnant blood. Persimmon confection, [^ %% 

 (Shih-kao), is made by beating together one peck of glutinous 

 rice and fifty dried persimmons, and then steaming the mix- 

 ture until it is cooked done. It is recommended to be eaten by 

 children in cases of autumnal dysentery, as well as in other 

 forms of flux. The fruit calyces, \^ '^f^ (Shih-ti), 11 59, are 

 prescribed in decoction in obstinate cough and dyspnoea. The 

 bark and wood are prescribed as astringents in fluxes and as 

 styptics in wounds and ulcers. The root is recommended as a 

 universal astringent, la ^^ 5^3 (Chen-t'on-chia) is said to be 

 the INIongolian (Turkic) name for the persimmon. 



DIOSPYROS LOTUS.— g- jl J- (Chiin-ch'ien-tziis ^ 

 ^ (Suan-tsao), 1205, M ^ (Hei-tsao), 368, |j: ^ (Juau-tsao), 

 ^ ^ ^ ( Yang-shih-tsao), In the case of some of the foregoing 

 names there is uncertainty as to whether D/os/>yros or Ziziphus 

 is meant. The Pentsao gives a number of other names, which 

 refer chiefly to the shape of the fruit. It also says that the 

 fruit resembles the date, but that the tree is like the persimmon. 

 The fruits are considered to be antifebrile, and are also used 

 to promote secretion. They ward oflf evil influence, and when 

 eaten for some time, give a pleasing appearance to the coun- 

 tenance, and strength and lightness to the body. 



