VEGETABLE KINGDOM. 215 



from one inch to an inch and a quarter in diametei. One 

 or more of the carpels is often abortive. Within the brittle 

 testa is a pair of shrunkeu, oily cotyledons. The pericarp has 

 a strongly aromatic, faintly acidulous taste, and an odor like 

 that of aniseed. The seeds have a sweeter flavor. There 

 is an oil, called A H flfl (Pa-chio-yu), which is said by Dr. 

 Williams to be made by distilling the fruit in small retorts ; a 

 picul producing about seven catties of oil. It is sent to 

 Europe and America in tin-lined cases. The oil is pale, and 

 warm or sweetish to the taste. It becomes solid at about 

 50° Fahrenheit. 



IMPATIENS BALSAMINA.— 1. f|lj (Feng-hsien). The 

 Phitsao gives a good description of this "touch-me-not ; " the 

 irritable character of the seed pods being admirably expressed 

 t>y ^ "^ -^ (Chi-hsin-tzli), 46, a more common name by which 

 the plant is known. In the north of China this plant is used 

 in combination with alum as a finger nail dye, and for this 

 reason the name ^ ^a ^ !^ (Jan-chih-chia-ts'ao) is given to it. 

 For the same reason it is called f^ ~^ (Hai-na), evidently in 

 imitation of the Arabian /lenna. These latter, however, 

 properly refer to Lawsonla alba (which see). The tender 

 stalks are said to be eaten after having been soaked in 

 wine for one night. The plant does not breed worms, 

 and insects are said not to visit it. This last statement prob- 

 ably refers to the structurally upside-down character of the 

 flowers. The seeds are thought to injure the teeth and the 

 throat, a property also referred to the root of Fiinkia siibcordata. 

 The powdered seeds are mixed with a small quantity of arsen- 

 ious acid and applied to carious teeth, when these are easily 

 removed. Dysphagia and cases of fish or other bones sticking 

 in the throat are treated with them. The powdered seeds are 

 directed to be taken in difficult labor, the soles of the feet being 

 rubbed at the same time with as many castor beans as the 

 woman is years old. The flowers are mucilaginous and cooling. 

 They are used in snake-bite, lumbago, and intercostal neural- 

 gia. They are thought to improve the circulation and to 

 relieve stasis. The root and the leaves are considered to be 

 slightly deleterious. They are prescribed for all sorts of foreign 



