VEGETABLE KINGDOM. 453 



The stalk and leaves are thought to act on the blood, relieving 

 congestion, obstructions, dropsical effusions, and hematoceles, 

 and is also accredited with eramenagogue, anthelmintic, and 

 antiscorbutic properties. It is administered in malarial diffi- 

 culties. The root is considered astringent, and is employed in 

 dysentery. 



VIBURNUM DILATATUM.— ^ ^ (Chia-mi); also called 

 ^ j& (Hsi-nii). The leaves are like to those of Hibiscus syriaats^ 

 and the fruits resemble those of Deiitzia gracilis^ red in color 

 and sweet in taste. The tree grows in mountain valleys. The 

 fiber of the internal bark is used in making ropes. The twigs 

 and leaves are used in making medicine, and are considered 

 anthelmintic and corrective. A decoction is used as a wash, 

 to maggoty sores, destroying the maggots, and acting as an 

 astringent and stimulant to the sore. 



VIBURNUM OPULUS.— # ^ (Hsiieh-ch'iu). -This 

 "snowball" plant is mentioned in \\i^ Kuang-chUnjang pu, but 

 is not used medicinally. It is known in Europe as the Gtdder 

 rose^ but in China it is confounded with the Hydrangea^ 

 which is called i^ ^ Jic (Yang-hsiu-ch 'iu), and which also is 

 not used medicinally. This confounding is liable to lead to 

 disastrous results, since the leaves of the latter are sometimes 

 used for tea, while the leaves of Vibnrniivi are said to be 

 emetic and drastic. 



VICIA FABA.— ^ S (Ts'an-tou). This is the Windsor 

 bean^ or horse bean^ of England. Equally with Pisum sativtimy 

 it is called ^ S (Hu-tou), because it comes from abroad. 

 This bean is extensively cultivated, especially throughout the 

 south and west of China. The tender shoots are eateri as a 

 pot-herb. The description given in the Pattsao is quite good. 

 The beans are supposed to benefit all the viscera. The shoots, 

 boiled in oil and salt, are said to be very efficacious in arousing 

 a drunkard from his stupor. 



VICIA GIGANTEA.— At Peking the character |f (Wei) 

 is applied to this, and in the Peiitsao the description under 

 this title seems, in most cases, to indicate a leguminous plant, 



