452 CHINESE MATERIA MEDICA. 



V. 



VALLISNERIA SPIRALIS.—^ ^ (K'u-ts'ao). This 

 tape-grass^ or eel-grass^ grows to the length of two or three 

 feet in ponds and marshes. There is no farther description of 

 the plant. It is prescribed in decoction in leucorrhoea, and is 

 used together with sesamum to increase the appetite, in which 

 case it is made into a tea, or the dry drugs are masticated 

 together. 



VERATRUM.— ^ '^ (Li-lu) ; also called ^J ^ (Shan- 

 ts'ung), "mountain onion." This term also includes Veratntm 

 album and Veratrum nigrum. It grows in north-central 

 China. The description in the Phitsao agrees with this 

 identification. The name in Chinese refers to the black color 

 (^) 9^ *^^ root-stock, as does the word Veratrtim (vere-atrum, 

 truly black). As found in the market, the drng consists of the 

 root-stock, terminated with the radicals and embraced by a 

 bundle of hairy, coir-like fibers. The Chinese recognize its 

 poisonous properties, and consider it to have errhine, emetic, 

 expectorant, evacuant, and anthelmintic effects. It is given 

 in apoplexy as a rousing emetic, and is used as an ointment 

 for itch and other parasitic skin diseases. It is also used in skin 

 diseases of the horse. As an appendix to this article in the 

 Pentsao^ there are given three other plants as resembling, in some 

 respects, Veratrum. One is jll ]f; J^ (Shan-tzii-shih), which 

 by Faber is identified as Tulipa edulis. It is used in menstrual 

 difficulties. The second is # H ;|ft (Shen-kuo-ken), which is 

 used in corroding ulcers. The third is called Ji ^ i^ (Ma- 

 ch'ang-ken), which is used in the Ku disease, the Feng 

 disease, and in scabious ulcers. 



VERBENA OFFICINALIS.—.^ %% ^ (Ma-pien-ts'ao), 

 807. This is a common plant in low grounds, having a square 

 stem, opposite leaves, and bearing in autumn small purple 

 flowers in spikes. Another name for it is f| :^ I^ (Lung-ya- 

 ts'ao). The plant is often confounded with Leonuriis on 

 account of its square stem and other similar characteristics. 



