158 CHINESE MATERIA MEDICA. 



jg B^ (Su-nao\ and ^ ^]^ )]^ (Chiii-chiao-uao) are mentioned in 

 the Pentsao as names of varieties of this drug, brought from 

 the Indien archipelago. ^ -/J^ )^ (Ch'ing-ping-p'ien) and 

 JtJL 7K )r 'Ni-ping-p'ien) are names given by Dr. Williams to 

 indicate the two sorts, clean and dirty, brought to the Chinese 

 market. ^ f| )f^ (Ts'ang-lung-nao) is the name of a very 

 pure, greyish, crystalline variety, said to be much stronger than 

 any of the other sorts. This steareopten is a natural product, 

 found in the cellular space of the wood. The most common 

 port of shipment of this valuable substance is Baroos, on the 

 west coast of Sumatra ; hence one of the English names. The 

 tree is straight, with a tall stem sometimes twenty feet thick, 

 overtopping with its huge crown other large trees to the extent 

 of some scores of feet. The natives describe three kinds of 

 this tree, named the Mailangnan^ Markiii tiiugan^ and the 

 Mar kin targan^ all distinguished by the mere color of their 

 bark. The dark-green, oval, pointed leaves are tough and 

 camphoraceous. The acorn - like fruit, compared by the 

 Chinese to that of the cardamom, is eaten as a relish, or as a 

 sweetmeat by the natives. The trees are cut down in April 

 or May, while fruiting, and the whole of the immense trunk 

 is split up and sacrificed to find the grains or flat pieces of 

 crystalized camphor, the largest of which rarely exceeds half 

 an inch across. They are met with in crevices or cells in the 

 body of the tree, and more frequently in the swellings of the 

 branches as they issue from the trunk. One tree may yield as 

 much as a half pound. It is met with in commerce in crystal- 

 lized, reddish-white grains, which upon closer inspection are 

 seen to be mixed with particles of a purer white color. Large 

 colorless crystals are seldom met with in the north. Hanbury 

 says that it "has the odor of common or laurel camphor, 

 mixed with something that has been likened to patchouli. It 

 is less volatile than laurel camphor, and has a greater specific 

 gravity, so that it sinks in water." Its composition is C,oH,80, 

 that of ordinary camphor being C10H16O. It is isomeric with 

 Ngai camphor (see Blinnca balsajnifcra). 



This drug is considered to be poisonous, and is little used 

 as an internal remedy. It has been used by persons attempting 

 suicide, but it is doubtful whether it will destroy the life of a 



