Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1903-12-11
CHINESE MEDICINE.
Amazing Connections Manufactured
By ceIestiaIs In California.

Ordinary existence Is pertlous un-
iertaking for horned toads In Califor-
mia, for not only are they captured
by thousands each year, mounted on
cards and sold as souvenirs OF the
Golden state, but they constitute the
principal ingredient In a popular Chi
nese medicine, which is guaranteed to
cure rheumatism and various other
ills.
If one peeks into any Of the hun
ireds of Chinese shanties OF Los
Angeles or San Francisco he will dis
cover what at first glance appears to
be a collection Of preserved fruit, but
which on close inspection proves to be
horned toads. snakes, centipedes,
worms, scorpions and bugs. No
Celestial is without such a medicine
cabinet, and as there are thousands OF
Chinese in California the gathering OF
venomous creatures sufficient to sup
ply the Oriental pharmacists is be-
coming a profitable industry among
the lower classes.
L. A. Fown, well educated Chinese
interpreter, Of No. 80 Apablasa street,
says that horned toad and rattlesnake
preparations, taken internally or ex-.
ternally, are used to treat rheumatism.
Hop Lee, a jolly vegetable man, who
is conspicuous figure In the streets
Of Los Angeles during his peddling
days, often varies his work by going
on a bug hunt. Hop is medical
wizard and the decoctions he manufac-
lures in his old shanty are a marvel.
A party Of tourists recently came
upon the pastoral home Of Hop and
caught him marching up a dusty path
with basketful Of toads. In response
to exclamations Of amazement from
the visitors he said: II ketchum heap
horned toads." Then, twisting his cue
more tightly to the back Of his head,
he continued: What for you likee
see? I no gottee time, lain come heap
quick"
BY moneyed persuasion he was in
duced to abandon his inhospitable
ideas and allow the tourists to go in
side the laboratory.
Horned toads are prepared in vari-
Gus ways for various purposes. They
are regarded as an excellent antidote
for the itch, the theory being that Ike
kills like. In preparing for the cure
of this ailment Hop puts the toads In
a small crematory; usually alive, so
that none Of the medicinal qualities
will escape, and heats them until they
dissolve into powder, which he serves
In homeopathic doses. For curing collie
Hop boils the toads until they are ten
der, after which he mashes and
strains them and seals them in glass
or earthen jars. If not convenient to
preserve them he puts them on trays
in the sunshine where they remain
till dry and crisp. He then stores them
away In sacks, just as he does his sur
plus potatoes, and uses them at odd
times according to the requirements
Of his patients.
Rheumatic sufferers have the utmost
faith in the horned toad cure. as a
remedy for this disease Hop puts the
tcads in glass jars Of whisky, the most
expensive to be obtained, and let's Them
soak for at least year and a half.
This preparation is taken internally in
prescribed doses. or is rubbed over the
afflicted parts.
Though horned toads are more ex-
tensivel,' used in medicine by the work.
ing Chi. e in California, the medici-
nal qualities of rattlesnakes, scorpions,
centipedes and worms are regarded
with favor. Snakes are prepared In
about the same way as the toads,
while the other bugs" though some
times preserved, are more frequently
dried.-Los Angeles Dispatch.