SOY. 183 
grates in the West Indies, and other countries of warm cli- 
mates. 
This is an herbaceous plant, which entwines round the ad- 
jacent trees or shrubs, and often rises to a considerable height. 
The leaves grow in threes upon long foot-stalks ; and the 
flowers are large, butter-fly shaped, of purplish colour, and 
form long and pendant spikes, which have a very beautiful 
appearance. 
It is the property of cowhage, when rubbed upon the 
skin, immediately to penetrate it, and to cause an in- 
tolerable itching. Hence it is sometimes wantonly 
employed for mischievous purposes ; and hence also it 
is found very troublesome to cattle and domestic ani- 
mals, in places where the plants grow. Notwithstand- 
ing this, it may be swallowed in safety, and, if taken 
into the stomach and intestines, is said to be an useful 
remedy for the destruction of worms. As a medicine, 
it is mixed with syrup or treacle into the form of an 
electuary. 
197. SOY is a dark-coloured sauce, which is prepared 
from the seeds of a Chinese plant (Dolichos soja), that has an 
erect and hairy stem, erect branches of flowers, and pendulous 
bristly pods, each containing about two seeds. 
There is a joke amongst seamen, that soy is made 
from beetles or cockroaches. This probably originates 
in the seeds of the plant from which the sauce is manu- 
factured having some fancied resemblance, in shape 
and colour, to a beetle. These seeds are used in China 
and Japan as food. They are made into a kind of jelly 
or curd, which is esteemed very nutritious, and which 
is rendered palatable by seasoning of different kinds. 
The liquid which we know by the name of soy is 
thus prepared : After the seeds have been boiled until 
they become soft, they are mixed with an equal weight 
of wheat or barley meal, coarsely ground. This mix- 
ture is fermented ; and a certain proportion of salt and 
water being added, the whole is allowed to stand for 
two or three months, care being taken to stir it every 
day ; and, by the end of that time, it is ready for use. 
