VEGETABLE KINGDOM. 421 



expressed it has no taste or virtue. It is said to warm the 

 digestive organs, promote digestion, destroy putrefaction and 

 vegetable poisons, give a healthy appearance to the body, and 

 benefit all of the viscera. It is used externally in bruises, insect 

 and animal bites, chilblains, and sunburn. Fermented sweet- 

 meats, called f^ || If (Kan-hsing-tsao), are used in nausea 

 and vomiting, and as a digestive and stomachic. 



SPONDIAS AMARA.— ^ Jf ^ (An-mo-le), f ^ t ^ 

 (Yii-kan-tzii). The first name is in imitation of the Sanscrit 

 Antala^ and another form of the same, or similar name is ^ jp 

 ^ 3^3 :^ (An-mo-lo-chia-kuo). The second name refers to 

 the taste of the fruit, which at first is bitter, but leaves an 

 increasingly sweet taste in the mouth. It is similar to the 

 hog-plum of the West Indies. The fruit is sometimes con- 

 founded with the mango. It grows in Lingnan, and has fine 

 leaves, like the Albizzia julibrissin^ yellow flowers, plum-like 

 fruits, greenish-yellow in color, with a six or seven angled, 

 round seed, the kernel of which is also used in medicine. The 

 tree grows to the height of ten or twenty feet, and has pliant 

 branches. The fruits are reputed to be tonic, pectoral, and 

 alexipharmic. Their ingestion is regarded as highly favorable 

 to long life, health, and the preservation of a youthful ap- 

 pearance. It is also said to be antidotal to mineral poisons, 

 especially of vermillion and sulphur. A pomade made of the 

 crushed fruits is used to promote the growth of hair and pre- 

 serve its black color. It is not stated for what the kernels 

 are used. 



SPONDIAS DULCIS.— A W ■? (Jen-mien-tzu). This 

 comes from the south-seas ; the tree is like the cherry. The 

 fruit has not much taste, but if stewed with honey it is relished. 

 The seed looks like a man's face, with eyes, nose, and mouth 

 well marked. It is often used as a plaything. The kernel is 

 brittle and pleasant flavored, and is sometimes added to tea to 

 give it a fragrant, mucilaginous, sweet taste. The medicinal 

 qualities are considered as alexipharmic and cooling. It is 

 recommended in bad cases of itch, and to be taken internally to 

 prevent extensive ulceration. In cases of difficult labor, if the 



