VEGETABLE KINGDOM. 375 



It is regarded more as a general eliminant and tonic to the 

 digestive tract. Depurative properties are also ascribed to it 

 in a marked degree. It is recommended in diseases of women, 

 especially those attended by congestion of the pelvic organs, 

 such as dysuria and dyspareunia. It is also used in malarial 

 fevers and the fevers of children. 



RHODODENDRON {AZALEA) INDICUM.— ;^ || 

 (Tu-chiian), m ]\i U (Ying-shaii-hung), ^XM^ (Hung-chih- 

 chu), and ^X. ^ hI (Hung-tu-chiian) ; Rhododendron {Azalea) 

 sinense^ ^ -^ §| (Huang-tu-chiian) and ^ ^ ^ (Lao-hu- 

 hua). These are all given in the P^ntsao under the title ^ ^ 

 ^ (Yang-chih-chu), which seems to be a sort of generic 

 name, and derives its meaning from the fact that when sheep 

 eat of these plants, incoordination of the muscles is produced, 

 and the animal staggers and falls. For this reason it is also 

 called ^ ;f; :^ [^ (Yang-pu-shih-ts'ao). Other names are 

 given, and other species of Azalea are evidently referred to, 

 such as ilj ^) g^ (Shah-chih-chu), which in Japan is Rhodo- 

 dendron snblanccolatuni ; j^ i^ ^| (Pai-tu-chiian), a cultivated 

 kind with white flowers, Rhododendron leiicanthiim ; and ^ j^ 

 3I (Yeh-tu-chiian) Rhododendron dauricmn. In addition to 

 these, the term ^ ^ i^ (Nao-yang-hua) is also given, which 

 has been variously referred to Datura metel and Hyoscyamits 

 niger (see these articles). The number of Rhododendrons and 

 Azaleas to be found in China is very large. Bretschneider 

 gives a list of 132 names in his '^History of Botanical 

 Discoveries in China," and when varieties are counted the 

 number will probably exceed this. The flowers are used as a 

 sedative in rheumatism, neuralgias, contractions, and bron- 

 chitis. Upon the principle of ^' similia siviUibus ciirajitiir ,^'' 

 the Chinese regard these very poisonous substances as admir- 

 able counterpoisons to the most virulent forms of toxjemia. 

 Mixed with aconite it is used in toothache, and with Ariscsma 

 thunbergii as an application to painful abscesses to benumb 

 them, or previous to opening them by those who are bold 

 enough to do such a thing. The Shan-chih-chu is said to be 

 non-poisonous, and children eat the flowers. The yellow 

 flowered variety is deleterious. The Yang-pn-shih-ts^ao grows 



