362 CHINESE MATERIA MEDICA. 



PYCNOSTELMA CHINENSIS.— 1^ ^ fp (Hsii-cli'ang- 

 ch'ing). This is confounded in the Peiilsao vvilh Macroclini- 

 dium verticillattun ; but the latter is a composite plant, while 

 this is an asclepiadaceous one. The name of the plant is 

 properly the name of a man, a famous physician for whom the 

 plant was named. The description is not very character- 

 istic. The root is said to resemble that of Asarnju sieboldi. 

 The taste of the drug is acrid and it is somewhat deleterious. 

 It is used in driving away evil effluvia, in the treatment of 

 marasmus, and for the purpose of quieting nervous affections, 

 and is also recommended in car and ship sickness (vertigo). 



PYROLA ROTUNDIFOLIA, Pyrola media. — "^ 1% ^ 

 (Lu-ti-ts'ao), 764. This zvintergreen is found in similar 

 localities in China to those occupied by it m America. There 

 is not much description of it. The plant is bruised and 

 applied to wounds to staunch hemorrhage, and it is also 

 applied to serpent, dog, and insect bites. 



PYRUS BACCATA.— ^ % (T'ang-li). Also called 

 Pvriis betiilisfolia. This is a small coarse pear, originally 

 growing wild in mountainous districts. It is net fit to eat 

 until after heavy frost. There are two varieties, a sweet and 

 a sour, bearing white and red flowers respectively. The wood 

 of the red variety is also red, and is good for making bows. 

 The leaves of this tree are sometimes pickled and eaten, or 

 used as a substitute for tea. The flowers also can be roasted 

 and eaten, or ground up and made into cakes. These are 

 said to benefit the muscles. The fruits, if baked, are said to 

 cure mucous diarrhoea. The twigs and leaves are prescribed 

 in cholera and choleraic difficulties, including cramps and 

 colic, and in vomiting. 



PYRUS CATHAYENSIS.— Tfc JR (Mu-kua), 866. This 

 is the same as Cydonia sinensis. The Chinese term is used in 

 the south for Cat'iea papaya. But in the north the name is ap- 

 plied to the qnifice^ and the description in the Pentsao evidently 

 refers to this fruit, although some of the varieties mentioned 

 may refer to Carica. An ancient name for the quince is 



