l62 CHINESE MATERIA MEDICA. 



the raspberry. Pistillate and staminate flowers are borne on 

 different plants. The drug consists of the yellow, jointed stems 

 of the plant, tied up in bundles, or the stems from which the 

 joints have been rejected, cut up into a chafF-like mass. The 

 reason for rejecting the joints is because they are considered 

 to have a medical action differing from, and in a measure 

 counteracting that of the stems. The action is represented 

 as decidedly diaphoretic and antipyretic. It is prescribed in 

 fevers, especially malarial fever, in coughs, influenza, and 

 post-partum difficulties. Its use should not be long continued, 

 lest it weaken the body. 



The root, which is also known as ^ i^ (Kou-ku), together 

 with the joints, is considered to have an action directly opposed 

 to that of the stem, and is therefore prescribed in profuse 

 sweating, either critical or natural. It is used as a dusting 

 powder, applied to the whole body. Although it probably has 

 some astringent property, it is not recommended for any other 

 difficulty, or to be used in any different way. The fruit is 

 mucilaginous, with a slightly acrid or pungent flavor, and is 

 eaten by the Chinese. 



EPIG^A ASIATICA. — llj ff^ (a (vShan-p'i-p'a). There 

 is no description of this in the books, and Li Shih-chen only 

 says that the charred twigs, pulverized and mixed with honey, 

 are very efficacious in the treatment of scalds and burns. The 

 ideutificatiou is Faber's. 



EPIMEDIUM SAGITTATUM. See AccrantJms sagit- 

 talus. 



EPIPHYTES. — The Chinese do not distinguish between 

 epiphytes and parasites. Nearly all proper epiphytes %o by 

 the name of ^ ^ (Chi-sheng), to which is prefixed the name 

 of the tree upon which they are found. The medical prop- 

 erties of the epiphyte in most cases are supposed to be some- 

 what similar to those of the plant upon which it grows. 

 There is therefore no sort of classification of these plants. The 

 only ones especially mentioned in the Pentsao are the mulberry 

 epiphyte^ the peach epiphyte^ and the willow epipJiyte^ and 



