488 CHINESE MATERIA MEDICA. 



Cocoannt Extract^ % ^ (Yeh-kao). The natives of Namao 

 are said to make an extract of the cocoannt shell, which they 

 employ as an application to ringworm. 



Substitute for Ginseng Extract^ i\ ^ ^ (Tai-shen-kao). 

 The fresh root of x^ristolochia recurvilabra from Hangchow is 

 combined with Pachynia cocos, and an extract made, which is 

 regarded as a fair substitute for ginseng, when the latter can- 

 not be procured. 



FICUS ERECTA.— 5^ 111] ^ (T'ien-hsien-kuo). This 

 grows in Szechnan to the height of eight or nine feet, the leaves 

 are likened to those of the lichee, but smaller. Like the Eicus 

 cavica^ it is said to have no flower, and the fruit is likened to 

 the cherry, borne in the axils of the branches, and is very sweet. 

 It may be used for the same purposes as the fruit of Eiais carica. 



FICUS RELIGIOSA.— ^ ^ ^ (P'u-t'i-shu). This is 

 the tree of intelligence, the bodhidruma^ called by the Buddhists 

 the Bo tree under the shade of which Buddha spent seven years 

 in penance. The Japanese call this Tilia miqueliana. It is 

 not mentioned in the Pentsao^ but the Kuang-chiln-fang-pu 

 gives a full description. It comes from Magadha, from the 

 original temple of Buddhism. It is said not to shed its leaves 

 ordinarily, but when Buddha underwent the metamorphosis 

 (died), its leaves fell off and its bark changed color. About a 

 thousand three hundred years ago, the first tree brought to 

 China came by sea in a ship, and was planted at Canton in the 

 court yard of the 7^ ^ -^ (Kuang-hsiao-ssu) monastery. It is 

 not used in any way medicinally. 



GRACILIvARIA LICHENOIDES.— ;5 1^ % (Shih-hua- 

 ts*ai). Quite a number of algal plants are found in China. 

 This one is commonly known as Ceylon moss^ and is used 

 extensively in the East as food. It is included in the Pentsao 

 under the article on Tricomanes japonica. It is a demulcent, 

 and is recommended in intestinal and bladder difficulties. It 

 is also recommended in jaundice. 



GUM ANIMI. — This East Indian form comes from Borneo 

 and Sumatra. It is said to be produced from certain dipter- 



