348 CHINESE MATERIA MEDICA. 



the most part to Amarautus^ but in this case it seems to be 

 applied to the common purslane. There is a fairly good 

 description in the Pentsao. The pl?ait is said to contain 

 mercury. It is eaten as a cheap, cooling, spring vegetable by 

 the Chinese of all classes. Cooling, lenitive, antiscorbutic, 

 alterative, vulnerary, and discutient properties are ascribed to 

 it, and the plant or its juice is recommended to be used in 

 ulcers, tumors, indigestion, leucorrhoea, nausea, gravel, wounds, 

 herpes, anthrax, eczema, colds, dysentery, colic, intestinal 

 worms, aud pruritis of the genitals. The seeds are considered 

 to be tonic and constructive, and are prescribed in opacities of 

 the cornea and to benefit the intestines. 



POTAMOGETON.— ^ (Yn). This spadiceous endogen 

 is well described in the Penisao. Horses and goats are 

 exceedingly fond of it, and it therefore has names referring to 

 this tact. It has a very foul odor, and the name above given 

 is said to indicate the fact. The Tsochnan says : " There is a 

 fragrant herb and a stinking one, and for ten years the stench 

 will remain" (— H — l§ + ^tp3®^ ^)- The root is used 

 in medicine. It is considered to be tonic, giving brightness 

 to the eye and acuteness to the hearing. It is also considered 

 to be antifebrile and diuretic. Faber gives 0^ ^ |^ (Yen-tzu- 

 ts'ai) as a term for Potaniogcton pol\gonifolins^ but this has not 

 been found mentioned in the Chinese works consulted. ,^ ^ 

 (Ma-tsao) is usually considered to be Potamogeton oxyphyllns^ 

 but this is not distinguished in the Pentsao from Myriophylluni 

 spicahinc. See Digitaria sanguinalis. 



POTENTILLA CRYPTOT.ENIA.— 1| ^ (Lang-ya). 

 The plant grows in the provinces north of the Yangtse, and 

 the root, which is officinal, is said to resemble the tooth of an 

 animal ; hence the name, "wolf's-tooth." It is very poisonous, 

 and is prescribed in some of the M. (Feng) diseases, foul sores, 

 and intestinal worms. Venereal and rodent sores, arrow wounds, 

 and snakebites are also treated with it. 



POTENTILLA DISCOLOR.— |i ^ if (Fan-pai-ts'ao). 

 This grows to the height of seven or eight inches, has a firm, 

 thick, .serrate leaf, light colored on the back, rather small, and 



