APPENDIX. 481 



DECOCTIONS.— ^§ ^ H (T'ang-yao-lei). While the 

 character f^ is most commonly used for this class of prepara- 

 tions, b[; (Chien) is also very frequently used, and with con- 

 siderable less frequency we find H (Keng) and f^ (Yin), while 

 ^ (Ch'a) and ff (Chih) are sometimes used for the same pur- 

 pose. Most Chinese medicines are administered in decoction 

 or infusion, but there are certain of these that have more or 

 less of an officinal standing, of which the following are given 

 in the Pentsao : 



Resolvent Decoction, ^ 4* '{^ (Chih-chung-t'ang), com- 

 posed of ginseng, Atractylis ovata, ginger, and licorice, and 

 used in all diseases of the viscera, especially of the heart, lungs, 

 and spleen. 



Tonic Decoction, P9 ^ ^ ?^ (Ssti-chiin-tza-t'ang), com- 

 posed of ginseng, Atractylis ovata, Pachyma cocos, dried 

 licorice root, ginger, and dates, and it is used in all conditions 

 of wasting or weakness. 



Citrus-Atractylis Decoction, ^n f^ \^j (Chih-shu-t'ang), 

 composed of Atractylis ovata and Citrus fusca, and prescribed 

 in indigestion, flatulence, and derangement of the vital func- 

 tions. 



Artemisia capillaris Decoction, "^ ^ ^ (Yin-ch'en-keng), 

 is recommended as a diuretic in fevers, especially in typhoid 

 and malaria. 



Snow-fever Decoction, i^ ^ ^ ?# (Shang-han-hsiieh- 

 chien), composed of Ephedra vulgaris, apricot kernels, and rhu- 

 barb, boiled in snow-water by a complicated process, and evaporat- 

 ed to the consistence to form pills. This is administered in 

 typhoid and other fevers, and is said to produce diaphoresis and 

 to check diarrhoea. 



Rehmannia ghitinosa Decoction, ^ ^ _h[( (Ti-huang- 

 chien), made by decocting the root and evaporating the decoc- 

 tion to the consistency to form pills. This is tonic, and 

 is administered in hematemisis, hemoptysis, and cancer- 

 ous swellings. Another decoction of the same is called j;^ 

 H M. (Ti-sui-chien), and is composed of Rehmannia root, 

 stag's bone glue, ginger, honey, spirits and seeds of Perilla 

 ocyraoides. This is taken in the form of decoction as a tonic 

 remedy. 



