372 CHINESE MATERIA MEDICA. 



times in spirits, and then dried ; but this last process partic- 

 ularly must detract from the medicinal activity of the drug. 

 The root is largely prescribed as a cooling and purifying drug, 

 acting directly on the blood as an alterative and tonic. It is 

 said to heal broken bones and tendons, to prolong life, "quiet 

 the soul and confirm the spirit," benefit the eyes and ears, and 

 is prescribed in fatigue and injuries of men, hemorrhagic dis- 

 charges in women, hemoptysis, nosebleed, and fevers. The 

 drug in the fresh state, ^ J^ ^' (Sheag-ti-huang), is considered 

 to be more active than in the dried. It is prescribed in the 

 same cases as above, but more particularly in active hemor- 

 rhages and acute difficulties. A preparation, called ^ i'^ ^ 

 (Shu-ti-huang), is made by taking juicy roots, washing in 

 spirits, filling with the seeds of the bastard cardamom, steaming 

 on a willow frame in a porcelain vessel, drying, and resteaming 

 and redrying nine times. This is thought to harmonise, 

 increase, and cool the blood, and to strengthen the marrow. 

 It is considered highly tonic, and is used in all wasting dis- 

 eases and weakened conditions of the body. In diseases of 

 pregnancy, puerperal difficulties, diseases of children, and 

 wasting discharges, it is specially recommended. The leaves 

 are bruised, and used in scaly eczema. The fruits, powdered and 

 taken with water, have properties similar to those of the root, 

 as is also the case with the flowers. Another plant, said to be 

 similar to Rchviannia^ grows in Lingnan, and is called %%'^ 

 (Hu-mien-mang). It is mentioned in the Phttsao in an ap- 

 pendix to the article on Rehmannia. It has a sweetish cooling 

 taste, and is non-poisonous. It is taken in decoction in 

 dyspepsia, flatulence, and colic. It is also found in Japan. 



REINECKIA CARNEA.— •§ ff ^ (Chi-hsiang-tsao). 

 This is Faber's identification. The term means "plant of 

 felicity." Chen Tsang-chi says that it grows in western 

 countries and was brought to China by the Tartars. It is sweet 

 and cooling in taste, and non-poisonous. It brightens the eye, 

 strengthens the memory, and is tonic to the heart. Li Shih- 

 chen says that there was a plant cultivated in China during his 

 time, which was called by the same name, the leaves of which 

 resembled those of the '-^ B (Chang-Ian), an orchid, and it 



