VEGETABLE KINGDOM. 359 



!^ ^M 'M (Cliii-liiig-chia'> is given, indicating that it may have 

 been inlroduced from India or Persia. There are very many 

 varieties oi" these plums in China (Li Shih-chen says nearly a 

 hundred) varying in size, color, shape, and flavor. INIost of 

 the finest varieties are found in the northern provinces. Those 

 plums which do not sink in water are considered deleterious, 

 and should not be eaten. If eaten in excess, they are thought 

 to cause dropsical swelling. There is also some suggestion of 

 them causing choleraic difficulties. When eaten dried, they 

 are thought to drive away chronic di.sease and harmonise the 

 centers. They pertain to the liver, and should be eaten in 

 diseases of that organ. The kernels of the seeds are used in 

 sprains, bruises, injuries to bones, in hysterical phantom tumor, 

 and in dark spots on the face (ff). Their ingestion is said to 

 improve the complexion. The white bark of the root is 

 considered to be very cooling, and is therefore used in thirst 

 and febrile difficulties. In decoction it is also used in ulcers, 

 toothache, fluxes, menorrhagia, leucorrhoea, and fevers of 

 children. The flowers are added to cosmetic preparations. The 

 leaves are used in intenuittent fever and epileptoid affections 

 of children. The gum of the tree is recommended in pannus, 

 to stop pain and relieve swelling. 



PSORALEA CORYLIFOLIA.— ^ f- flg- (Pu-ku-chih). 

 ^ Ik !^fi (P'o-ku-chih), 1042, ^ El |& (P'o-ku-chih). This 

 drug is said to come from Persia, and the above names are prob- 

 ably transliterations. The plant is now found in Lingnan 

 and Szechuan. The flat, oval or slightly reniform, black one- 

 seeded legumes are about two or three lines long, and often 

 retain the persistent, five-lobed calyx. They have an aromatic 

 odor, and a bitter, aromatic flavor. They are regarded as 

 highly aphrodisiac and tonic to the genital organs, and are 

 prescribed in all forms of sexual incompetency. Threatened 

 abortion, the discomforts of piegnaucy, insufficient erections, 

 polyuria, and incontinence of urine in children, are difficulties 

 for which the drug is administered. 



PTERIS AQUALINA.— fj (Chiieh). The diff"erent 

 kinds of ferns are not clearly distinguished from each other. 



