VEGETABLE KINGDOM. 321 



descend in the bod}', and therefore is a good remedy in almost 

 any disease. 



Anti-dysentery Pills ; ^ ^\ ^ % % (Chih-li-hsiang-lien- 

 wan). Aristolochia recurvilabra, Coptis teeta, and honey. 



Aphrodisiac Pills ; ^ ]^ :f5* (Chiao-kan-tan). Cyperus 

 rotundus, Pachynia cocos (the kind that encircles the root), and 

 honey. For impotence in middle age, and to prolong virility 

 into old age (fifty -one to eighty). Another formula is as follows : 

 Atractxlis sinensis, Zanthoxylum, fennel, and paste. Tonic 

 and strengthening to the virile powers, producing fertility. 



Apricot-gold Pills; '^ ^ ^ (Hsing-chin-tan). The for- 

 mula of this pill reminds one of those of the old alchemists. 

 It is made entirely of the kernels of apricot seeds, but there is 

 a long process of preparation, extending to the selection during 

 the winter of a tree having auspicious surroundings, the use 

 of geoniantic influences, the combination of the various ele- 

 ments, water, fire, earth, and frost, the collection of the 

 kernels, giving preference to those seeds containing double 

 kernels, the use of south-flowing water for the digestion of the 

 kernels, followed by a process of fermentation, decoction, and 

 mixing with the pulp of dates to form the pill-mass. It is said 

 that Chaos i^^. ^) took these pills and for long ages did not 

 die. Hsia-chi (^ ^[ij) took them and attained to the age of 

 seven hundred years, and afterwards became an immortal. 

 "The people of the world will not believe this, but their 

 unbelief is due to their unwillingness to purify their hearts." 



Atractylis Pills; ^ yft; \ (Tsang-shu-wan). These consist 

 of Atractylis sinensis and black sesamum seeds. The former is 

 prepared in a special manner, mixed with the latter and made 

 into pills with flour-paste. For rheumatism and malaria. 

 There is another formula, into the composition of which 

 Atractylis sinensis, Zanthoxylum, fennel, Psoralea corylifolia, 

 and Ipomoea hederacea enter. These are said to give strength 

 to the eyesight. 



Asnre-excellent Pills ; ^ ^ ^ (Ch'ing-6-wan). These 

 are composed of Psoralea corylifolia, walnuts, and licorice, and 

 are regarded as tonic, reconstructive, and diuretic. 



Barkhausia Closijig-passages Pills; ^ ^ ^ ^ % (Huang- 

 lien-pi-kuan-wan). Barkhausia repens, pangolin scales, Ca.ssia 



