VEGETABLE KINGDOM. 433 



TILIA CHINENSIS.— tp^ (Tuan). This character is 

 also written j^x (Cliia) in the Erhya^ and it is not quite certain 

 whether two different trees are confounded, or two characters 

 are not clearly distinguished. At Peking Ttian refers to the 

 linden or Iwie tree. It is described as having very large 

 leaves folded together like a fan, and the bark furnishes textile 

 fiber for making fish nets. No medical uses are given for any 

 part of the tree, 



TINCTURES.—^ %\ (Chiu-lei). , These with the Chinese 

 are usually fermented spirits, made by macerating the drug in 

 a mixture of grain (usually rice) and leaven during the process 

 of fermentation for producing spirits. In some instances the 

 prepared spirit is used, but at tlie time most of the formulae 

 were prepared distilled spirits were unknown. In the native 

 medicine shops the old process is still in use, although in those 

 cases where the prepared spirit is directed to be used, distilled 

 spirits are now employed instead of the old fermented spirits. 

 A large number of these preparations is found in the books of 

 which the following are the principal ones: 



Tincture of AcantJwpanax spinosiivi / 55. ;5fP ]^ ?@ (Wu- 

 chia-p'i-chiu). A decoction of the bark is fermented with rice 

 and leaven. It is used in colds and is regarded as beneficial in 

 diseases of the ligaments and bones. 



Tincture of Achryanthes bidentata ; ■^ )}^ 'i@ (Niu-hsi- 

 ;hiu). A decoction of the drug is fermented with rice and 

 saven, and the preparation is considered tonic and useful in 

 •hronic malaria. 



Tincture of Acorus calamus ; ^ f|f jg (Ch'ang-p'u- 

 hiu). A decoction of the root is fermented with rice and 

 •aven, and the preparation is regarded as useful in all forms 

 r colds, rheumatic difficulties, and to improve the sight and 

 earing. 



Tincture of Akehia quinata ; %, ^ -jg (T'ung-ts'ao-chiu). 

 he fruits of this plant are decocted and fermented with rice 

 id leaven. It is used in the treatment of diseases of the 

 icera and to improve the circulation. 



Tincture of Allium fistulosuni ,- ^ |^ 'jg (Ts'ung-shih- 

 .iu). The onions are mixed with bean ferment and digested in 



