2l8 CHINESE MATERIA MEDICA. 



tinued use prevents the hair from falling and rejuvenates the 

 body. The juice of the bruised leaves is considered aiitidotal to 

 medicinal poisons, wolf-bites, and arrow wounds. It is also 

 applied in insect stings, cantharidal blisters, and arsenic cau- 

 terizations. The ^ ^, stalk and root, is recjmmended in 

 menstrual difficulties, and the i^ ^ is considered to be an anti- 

 febrile and antidotal remedy, being prescribed in much the 

 same difficulties as the ;^ ^ and the ^ ^. 



Indigo itself is called ^ J^ (Lan-tien), or more properly ^ 

 1^ (Lan-tien). According to the Pintsao it is prepared by 

 throwing the plants into pits dug in the field, macerating them 

 in water for one night, after which lime is added and the whole 

 well beaten up. The water is then drawn off, leaving the 

 thick, dark blue indigo paste at the bottom to dry, preparatory 

 to being placed in bamboo baskets. It is then ready for the 

 dyer's use. The froth rising to the top of these pits is collect- 

 ed and made into an extract, called %% ^ (Tien-hua) or ^ |^ 

 (Ch'ing-tai), 194, in imitation of the true indigo formerly 

 brought from Persia. Indian indigo is also imported into 

 China, as is likewise Manila liquid indigo. The Formosan 

 product is an excellent aye, but is frequently much adulterated. 

 In the province of Chihli a very good dye is made and sold 

 under the name of 3^ f^ (Ching-tien). Liquid indigo is called 

 ■jJC tiH (Shui-tien), dry indigo J; %i (T'u-tien), and indigo dye 

 ^ ^ (Tien-ch'ing) or ^ ^ (Ch'ing-tai). The indigo trade is 

 a profitable one in China, since the prevailing color of Chinese 

 clothes is made with this dye. Although aniline dyes, on 

 account of their brilliancy and cheapness, are having quite a 

 vogue in China, they will with difficulty supersede indigo, 

 which on account of its ease of production, its long use by and 

 adaptability to the tastes of the Chinese, and its durability as a 

 pigment, will continue to hold a strong place in Chinese textile 

 manufactures. Medicinally, the common indigo is thought to 

 have similar virtues to the plants from which it is derived ; that 

 is, of an antifebrile, auti-poisouous, astringent, and anthelmin- 

 tic remedy. 



The ^ ^ (Ch'ing-tai) or ^ :l^ (Tien-hua), also called ^ 

 ia ^ (Ch'ing-ko-fen), originally came from Persia, but it is 

 now made in China, as indicated above. Its medicinal action 



