ON THE CH‘ING MUH HSIANG. 73 
some fancied resemblance to the rhizome of Aucklandia Costus, Falc., 
which latter is largely imported into Southern China, for the pu rpose 
of making incense-sticks, &c. It consists of pieces of rhizome of a 
light brittle texture, varying in thickness from the diameter of the 
ash-grey epidermis ; and which, when fresh, has a hot camphoraceous 
peppery odour, and a Raper 3 camphoraceous and bitter taste.* The 
** Chih u K‘ao,” or ‘‘ Illustrated lp Sg and 
Description of Pianta,” pablishied only twenty-five years ago, gives a 
really excellent outline drawing of the plant (here Tepiredlest , and 
speaks of it in the following terms (cap. 21), for the. translation of 
which re am indebted to Mr. Sampson’s kindness :—‘‘ The Zw ching 
grows on the slopes of hills in Hu peh province. It 
isa trailing plant, the small branches, leaves, and fruit like those of 
Ma tao ling; the ve are yellow, small, and fragrant. In medicine 
it is employed to urns and indigestion. It produces orate in 
the form of a rents yee cylinder, bamboo re at first small, 
afterwaids larger, curved like a buffalo’s horn, the sharp end being 
raised, and of a rather deep pafple-biack hue. The sexual organs 
are visible within.” Dr. Tatarinov was, I believe, the first to refer 
this product to an Aristolochia ;+ and, subsequently, Dr. Porter Smith, 
who remarks that ‘it isa owerful purgative, emetic, and anthel- 
‘Mmintic remedy, principally used for snake-bites, being employed both 
externally and aie erroneously supposed it to be referable to 
A. contorta, Bunge.t Mr. E. C. Bowra, in his Report on the Trade 
* Mr. Hanbury (Notes on Chin. Mat. med., 32) speaks of it in a dried state 
as having a slightly aromatic taste, with “but little smell. Rhizomes dried by 
ont ey lf lost their scent almost maeiraly, but retained their flavour for the most 
part 
+ Catalog. medicam. sinens., p. 12, n. 93. 
to Mat. med. of China, p. 22. work Leet contains a great 
variety of pornetion on the real therapeutic prope ies of Chinese drugs, as well 
as the fancied virtues ascribed to them by native practitioners ; pi carestast scientific 
pre ra pea are :fequentp very untrastw worthy, and gener erally to be received 
ier the utmost caution. ‘This arises from several causes: from the use of 
faites 3 mont or less unreliable ; from sin Ha Pegi es pat 
Schultes" determinations of the Chinese names in J which 
learned friend Dr, Bretschueider (On the Study = Valu of Chie. Bot. Works, 
p. 23) has conclusively shown to be a very fa us guide—similar names in 
the two countries often net only allied s pacha, or even quits different 
mera ; from imperfect practical bopenient knowledgs, and especially an in- 
ficinalis and F. pee) Ceiba,’ Rubus Ideus and. R. fruticosus, Rosa 
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