The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-02-06
CHINESE MEDICINE.
Connections Made from the Toad by
California CelestIals.

Ordinary existence is a perilous un-
dertaking 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 Chinese medl-
cine, which is guaranteed to cure rheu-
matiSm and various other ills. II one
peekS into any of the hundreds of Chi
neSe ShantieS of Los Angeles or San
Francisco he will discover what at first
glance appears to be a collection of
preserved fruit, but which on close in
spection proves to be horned toads.
snakes. centipedes, worms, scorpions,
and bugs. No Celestial is without such
medicine cabinet. and as there are
thousands Of Chinese in California, the
gathering of venomous creatures suffi-
cient to supply the Oriental pharma-
cists is becoming profitable industry
among the lower classes.
L. A. FoWn, well educated Chinese
interpreter of 80 Apablasa street says
that horned toad and rattlesnake
preparations, taken internally or exter-
nally. are used to treat rheumatism.
Hop Lee, a jolly vegetable man, who IS
a conspicuous figure in the streets of
Los Angeles during his peddling days,
often varies his work by going on a
bug hunt. Hop is a medical wizard.
and the decoctions he manufactures 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 EXPLANATIONS of amazement from the
visitors he said: Il ketcbum heap
horned toads.' Then twisting his queque
more tightly to the back of his head,
he continued: What for you likee see ?
By moneyed persuasion he was induced
to abandon his inhospitab1e ideas and
allow the tourists to go inside the lab
oratory
Horned fOadS arc rora1arad in various
| ways for various purposes. They are
regarded as an excellent antidote for
the itch, the theory being that like kills
| like. In preparing for the cure of this
a1lment 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 tender, after which
| he maSheS and strains them and seals
| them in glass or earthen jars. If not
| convenient to preserve them on trays in
| 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
| the patients
| Rheumatic sufferers have the utmost
| faith in the horned toad cure. AS a
remedy for this disease Hop puts the
| toads in glass Jars of whisky the most
| ~ pS ODLeAiilSO5 anu 1GlS lIlSll
soak for at least a year and half
| This preparation is taken internally in
prescribed doses, or is rubbed over the
afflicted parts. Though horned toads
are more extensively used for medi-
! cine by the working Chinese in Cali
fornia, the medicinal qualities Of rattle
| snakes, scorpions, centipedes and worms
! are regarded with favor Snakes are
prepared in about the same way as
toads, while the other bugs though
| sometimes preserved, are more fire.
quently dried.-Los Angeles Times.