VKGETABLE KINGDOM. 357 



been mistaken for almonds. They are recommended for 

 conghs, blood-diseases, rbenmatism, amenorrboea, ague, post- 

 partum hemorrhage, and worms. Crushed and mixed with 

 honey, tliey make an application for keeping the hands smooth, 

 if applied at night. The hairy pellicle of the .skin of the fruit 

 is used in hemorrhages and eval effluvia. The fruit which 

 bangs on the tree all winter and is gathered in the early 

 spring, is called f^^ ^ (T'ao-hsiao), 3^}£. f^ (T'ao-nu), and ijil^ f^ 

 (Sben-t'ao). Another name means " demon's skull." These 

 are regarded as slightly deleterious, and have the power of 

 overcoming every kind, of demoniac influence and of relieving 

 many sorts of neuralgic and rheumatic pains. Profuse sweat- 

 ing in children, hemorrhage in pregnant women, ague, scald- 

 bead, and sickness from the over-ingestion of peaches are all 

 treated with these. The flowers of the peach tree are supposed 

 to have some supernatural power in driving away the demon 

 of ill health, giving a good color to the complexion, and rejoic- 

 ing the countenance. They are regarded as diuretic, vermi- 

 fuge, and quieting, and they are applied locally in favus and 

 acne, and as a cosmetic. The leaves, 1259, are regarded as 

 parasiticide, antifebrile, and astringent, and are prescribed in 

 typhoid and other fevers as a diuretic and corrective remedy, 

 and in cholera. The bark of the tree and root, 1258, are both 

 used, but preference is given to the latter, and especially to 

 the bark of that root extending toward the east. Only the 

 white inner bark is employed. It is considered to be pro- 

 phylactic, parasiticide, and quieting. Extreme jaundice, 

 epidemics, and dropsy are special indications for its use. The 

 peach gum (f^^ fl^, T'ao-chiao) is also used as a sedative, 

 alterative, astringent, and demulcent remedy. Peach-wood 

 slips, l^^fe ^ (T'ao-fu), are used as charms against evil spirits. 

 These are sometimes affixed to the lintels of the door, or the 

 lintel is made of peach wood. Posts of peach-wood, called 

 ^ Wi (T'ao-chueh), are also set out about the house for the 

 same purpose. The epiphyte growing on the peach tree, ^^^ ^ 

 ^ (T'ao-chi-sheng), is said to partake of the medicinal prop- 

 erties of the tree, as do also the grubs, )|?|^ -^ (T'ao-tu), which 

 infest the wood. The f^ felt (Yu-t'ao) is the nectarine, and 

 ^ ij'Jfe (Ping-t'ao) and [g; t^fe (Ho-t'ao) are the names of a flat 



