270 CHINESE MATERIA MEDICA. 



tinction is made between the plantain and the banana {Musa 

 paradisicd). A number of varieties are mentioned, such as : 

 ^I % (Hung-chiao), 7K % (Shui-chiao), ^ % (Ya-chiao), ^ ^L 

 ^ (Niu-ju-chiao), 1§^ % (Pan-chiao), f^ ^ ^ (Fo-shou-chiao), 

 ^i •? ^ (Chi-tzu-chiao), H A ii (Mei-jen-chiao), and If f^ i|^ 

 (Tan-p'ing-chiao). The plant is met with in Szechuan, Fu- 

 kien, and the southern provinces. It grows in the Yangtse 

 provinces, but seldom ripens its fruit. The fruit is considered 

 to be very cooling, and should not be eaten in excess. When 

 eaten in the raw state, it relieves thirst, moistens the lungs, 

 purifies the blood, heals wounds, and is anti vinous. Steamed, 

 it promotes the circulation of the blood and enriches the 

 marrow. The root, 84, is considered to be antifebrile and 

 restorative. Bruised, it is applied to wounds and ulcers, and 

 the juice is administered in jaundice, influenza, and post-partum 

 difficulties. The viscid sap of the plant, which is called ^ jjlj 

 (Chiao-yu), is procured by thrusting a bamboo tube into the 

 stalk and collecting the sap in a bottle. It has the antifebrile 

 properties of the other parts, and is specially recommended in 

 epilepsy, vertigo, and to prevent women's hair from falling, 

 to increase its growth and to restore its color. The bruised 

 leaves are particularly recommended as a poultice in incipient 

 abscesses. The flowers are used in cardialgia. 



MUSCI. — ^ CT'ai) is almost a family name for mosses^ 

 but is not confined to these, being also at times applied to 

 algcE^ fiingi^ and some aquatic spermaphytes. Several mosses 

 are mentioned in the Pentsao. {)'.$ ^ (Chih-li), which is 

 variously called jrjc ^ (Shui-t'ai), 7JC ^% (Shui-mien), and ^ % 

 T'ai-ts'ai), is probably Ccraniimn rubrum. It was formerly 

 used for making a kind of paper, and is still gathered and dried 

 for food under the name of ^ )]ij) (T'ai-fu). It is considered 

 to be very nourishing. Its medicinal action is cooling, peptic, 

 and emollient. It is used in fluxes, influenza, and cinnabar 

 poisoning. The moss growing in old wells, ^ 4* o" (Ching- 

 chung-t'ai), is of repute in the treatment of wounds, scalds and 

 burns, and is considered to be an antidote to several vegetable 

 poisons. That from the bottom of boats, ^ ]^'^ (Ch'uau- 

 ti-t'ai),- is prescribed in hemoptj'sis, gravel, and influenza. 



