APPENDIX. 473 



BETA VULGARIS. — Since the article on page 68 was in 

 print, the Chinese name has been found in the Pentsao with 

 the first character wrongly written ^. The plant was formerly 

 used for making a fish condiment. The leaves are used by the 

 people at the south as a pot-herb. Li Shih-chen gives a fair 

 description of the plant, but does not clearly indicate its 

 biennial nature. Medicinally, it is regarded as cooling, and is 

 recommended in dysentery, as a hemostatic, stomachic, and 

 constructive. It is specially recommended for women. The 

 root acts on the blood vessels, is carminative and tussic. The 

 seeds are used in the favus of children, and steeped in vinegar 

 are considered a good application to the face to remove cosmetic 

 powders. They are also used in bleeding piles. 



BOCCONIA CORDATA.— If -^ 50 (Po-lo-hni). This 

 grows in the mountain valleys of the Yangtze provinces, has a 

 stalk and leaves like Ricimts communis^ a hollow stem contain- 

 ing a yellow sap which is exceedingly poisonous. When dry, 

 the stem may be used as a whistle. Being very poisonous, this 

 plant is regarded as an admirable counter-poison in all forms of 

 poisoned sores, abscesses, carcinoma, and the Kit disease. 



CAKES, PASTRY, AND SWEET-MEATS.— The term 

 |)& (Kao) is applied to sweet cakes, puddings, and the like. 

 They are usually steamed and made of glutinous rice, glutinous 

 millet, or common rice flour. Those made of glutinous rice are 

 called ^ (Tzu), and those made of rice, beans, and sugar are 

 called 15 (^rh). Those made of the common rice are con- 

 sidered the most digestible, while those made of common millet 

 are thought to injure the spleen and should be forbidden to 

 children. The former nourish the spleen, stomach, intestines, 

 benefit the breath, and harmonize the centers. The latter 

 benefit the breath, warm the centers, and assist in excretion. 

 They are specially recommended in the diarrhoeas of the aged. 



1^ (Tsung) is the name of the three-cornered dumplings 

 extensively used at the Fifth Moon feast. The character is 

 commonly written %% (Tsung). Another name, referring to 

 their shape and the substance from which they were made in 

 ancient times, is ;^ ^ (Chio-shu). They are now most fre- 



