The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1900-09-16
MEDICINES OF CHINA.
Queer Remedies Employed by
Chinese Physicians.
THEIR FAITH IN VEGETABLES.

M.nx kinds Are Considered Cures
For Consumption and Remittsnt
Fever One Medicine, Taken In
LiQuor, Thought 90 Heal Any Kind
of Fracture.
The Chinese physician employs
strange and wonderful means for the
recovery OF his patient, and the list OK
medicines in vogue with the Celestials
will doubtless open the eyes of many
an occidental practitioner. For in
stance, says the Washington Times,
rautharides are considered a sure
cure for hydrophobia; the fruit Of car
damon ia supposed to increase knowi-
edge by strengthening the stomach,
which organ the Chinese identify with
4 persons disposition and mental
capacity; the dried skin Of certain
kind of orange Is used as q sedative;
dried aloe flowers are used In pulmo-
nary affections, and are also employed
In cookery as a tonic or relish. Tne
honeysuckle is given In cases OF rheu-
matism. and the dogbane in diseases
of the kidneys
| a
nharmacopoeia, and cassia buds a tonic
and astringent Melon seeds are taken
for coughs, colds and asthma, While
the morning glory root is used In
severe dyspepsia. Pumpkins are be-
Iieyed to possess soothing properties
and are used in cases of COLES, spasms,
etc. Quite a number or Vegetaoies are
considered cures for consumption and
remittent fever. The under she'll OF
the land turtle Is taken as decoction
by the aged and weak, and Is used gen.
orally as a stimulant. as Is also
mustard seed. To oleanders are
attributed rejuvenating and highiy
nutritive qualities. One vegetable
with an unpronounceable Chinese
name, Is employed to work on the
effect of drunkenness
Fragments Of fossil crabs. crusneo
and powdered. are considered specinc
In affections of the eye. RhuDaro Is
indigenous to China and In former
times Canton was the only port from
which the drug was exported Inc
Chinese dig the roots early In the
spring. before the leaves appear. cut
them into long. fat pieces. dry them
for two or three days in the shade, and
then string them on cords. Tumeric Is
used for diseases Of the skin, also as q
yellow dye in the preparation or to
, bacco and, mixed with indigo or prus
sian blue, is the means employed fol
eoloring green tea and also to season
} currIes. Another of the Chinese veg
. etables Is used to bring out the erup
ton of smallpox as well as to colo
candles, while still another plant 1
D found indispensable in curing boils AM
. strengthening the hair.
From castor oil beans the Chimes
express an oil which is used In tn
h manufacture Of candles. A very costl
. gelatin is made by boiling down dee
horns. after which it is employed
a tonic. One medicine, taken in liquor
m is thought to heal fractures of any kln'
Petrified crabs are used for boil
sores. etc. snakeskins for smallpo!
and caterpillars are employed in broE
= chial complaints. Dried cows gall
used as an expectorant, the refuse
tobacco, mixed with straw, as a stint
h liant, and cows glue, made from bu
4 .falo hides, as sedatiye-
In fact, almost every natural pr
p duction, mineral, vegetable and anims
m is used in China for some medicin
purpose. Glue seems to possess wo
y derfuI healing properties taken inte
nalIy, a rather striking means Il
A mending the human machinery. Th
made from tortoise she'll is consider
" a tonic, while that obtained from
q gers bones has also great virtue al
q costs $500 per picul 1854 pounds)'
prohibitive price in China.
SaIted scorpions are considered
a ceIIent in cases of smallpox. A
eaters scales cure rheumatism, al
" although the use Of live leeches is I
known, those animals are made into
An decoction, being first put into water
~ spirit, and the result taken interna
" as a purgative, or applied outward
in cases of bruises. Dried toads &
u considered a tonic, and being sold a
cents each are especially popular.
q tigers skull is regarded as a cha
. against typhoid fever, ague, rheur
tism and rheumatic headache; also
A~ a protection from the danger Of be-
~ bitten by a mad dog. Pearls are T
scribed in affections of the heart q
bile, also in cases of deafness.