VEGETABLE KINGDOM. 337 



bury in the ground for twenty-one days. Take out and apply 

 to the ringworm, and this will soon be cured. 



Healing Abscess Plaster ; '/p M" $ '^ (Chih-chung-tu- 

 kao). Mix four ounces of Siamese gamboge with eight ounces 

 of white wax. Boil thoroughly twelve ounces of sesamuni oil, 

 and add the above mixture. Keep in a porcelain bottle with 

 a little sesaraum oil on top to preserve it. This is to be 

 applied to any sort of abscess or sore. 



The Chin Family Plaster ; ^ "^^^^ % (Chin-shih-li- 

 tung-kao). To five ounces of Universal Plaster Basis add of 

 Siamese gamboge, one and a half ounces ; yellow wax, two 

 ounces. Boil to a dark brown color, spread on cloth and 

 apply. Said to be a sure cure for varicose ulcer. 



PL AT YC ARIA STROBILACEA.— jf % (Huai-hsiang), 

 ^' ^ M fr (Tou-lo-p'o-hsiang). This is described as a small 

 tree, growing in the mountains of mid-China and used for fuel. 

 It has long, pinnate, green, fragrant leaves, serrated, and 

 resembling thistle leaves. The root resembles that of Lyciuni 

 but is larger and is very fragrant wlien burnt. It is used in 

 the bath to give fragrance to the body. The root is used 

 medicinally only in the preparation of an ointment to be 

 applied to sores on the scalp. \^ (K'ao) is also suggested for 

 Platycaria^ but it is also used for Mangrove bark. 



PLATYCODON GRANDIFLORUM.— :^ ^ (Chieh- 

 keng), 89, 94. This is often confounded with Adenophora^ and 

 the latter is sometimes called ~B %n^ (K'u-chieh-keng). The 

 young plant is eaten as a pot-herb, and is considered to have 

 vermicidal properties. The root is of a yellowish-white color 

 and is about as thick as a little finger. It is one of several roots 

 that are fraudently substituted for true ginseng. Its medicinal 

 properties are given in the article on Adenophora. The stem 

 and the leaves, ^ fi^ (Lu-t'ou), are also used in medicine, and 

 are prescribed in decoction in dyspeptic vomiting of mucus. 



PODOCARPUS MACROPHYLLA.— ^ JH % (Lo-han- 

 ^iu)> ^ ^ fe (Lo-han-sung). The fruit of this tree, which 

 is said to resemble the pine, is given in the Customs Lists 



