226 CHINESE MATERIA MEDICA. 



K. 



KADSURA CHINENSIS.— 3£ P^ ^ (Wu-wei-tzu). 

 Properly these Chinese characters are applied to ScJiiza7idra 

 chinefisis^ and the plant will be described under that title. 

 These magnoliaceous genera are so nearly alike that the Chinese 

 do not readily distinguish them. The Kadsiira is found in 

 Japan, where it is distinguished as ]^ 35. PJ: (Nan-wu-wei), 

 referring to the fact that it is found in South China, while the 

 Schisandra^ being found most plentifully in North China and 

 Korea, is called :}b £. 5|; (,Pei-wu-wei), 1477. 



K^MPFERIA GALANGA. — ilj ^ (Shan-nai), 1063, 

 llj M (Shan-lai), ^ ^ (San-nai). The fragrant, warm roots of 

 Aipinia and Kczmpferia are grown in the south of China, and 

 exported under the general name of Capoor CtitcJiery^ which 

 is not a very happy alteration of the Hindustani name of this 

 drug, kafur-kiichri^ "root of camphor." The root is met with 

 in shops in flat, oblong, or round disks, from a half inch to an 

 inch in diameter. Externally, they are covered with a reddish- 

 yellow, shriveled epidermis. Internally, they are white. Some 

 of the pieces are very irregular in shape, and branched. The 

 odor is camphoraceous, but pleasant, and the taste is warm and 

 aromatic. The plant is likened to ginger, and the root is eaten 

 as a relish. It is credited with stimulant, stomachic, carmina- 

 tive, prophylactic, and similar properties. It is principally used 

 as a remedy in toothache, or as a wash in dandruff or scabs 

 upon the head. It appears to destroy lice and pediculi. Dr. 

 Williams says: *'It is exported from Canton and Swatow to 

 India, Persia, and Arabia, where it is used in perfumery and 

 mediciile, and also to preserve clothes from insects." It is some- 

 times identified with ^ ^ (Lien-chiang), which is a somewhat 

 similar scitamineous root, used in the south as a remedy in 

 pyrosis. The character |^ is sometimes improperly written |^, 

 and it is properly written ^. The country of Fu-lin, which is 

 probably Syria, is said to have a plant yielding a root like 

 that of Kccmpfcria., from the flowers of which is produced 

 an oil used for anointing the body in febrile difficulties. 



