SCUTELLARIA MACRANTHA.—(Huang-ch‘in), 513. This name seems also to be applied to Scutellaria viscidula. This Chinese skullcap is a common plant in nearly every part of China, in Mongolia, and well into Siberia. It grows about a foot high, has small, lanceolate leaves, and bears blue flowers. Other species, which are also used, bear yellow, or purple, flowers. The root, which is usually cut into slices, is light, spongy, yellow in color, slightly bitter, and mucilaginous. When it is fresh and solid, it is called (Tzŭ-ch‘in), and when old, broken, and full of holes, it is called (Su-ch‘in). This old root, from being hollow and black within, is sometimes called (Tu-fu), […] This thing is said to equalize the vital principles, to be tonic to the bladder, quieting to the pregnant uterus, stimulant to the respiratory organs, anodyne, and astringent, and it is prescribed in fevers, jaundice, diarrhœas, ulcers, colic, amenorrhœa, fluxes, boils, carbuncle, and cancer of the breast. A famous prescription is known as the (San-huang-wan), “three-yellow-pill,” and is composed of this root, rhubarb, and Coptis teeta. It is regarded as a tonic and reconstructive remedy in weakness of sexual origin in men and women. The seeds are also used to cleanse the bowels of blood and pus.
One clause is omitted and marked “[…]”: the translation of the name Tu-fu and a remark that demeans women. The Chinese characters printed before each romanized name and after rhubarb and Coptis are not transcribed. Words hyphenated across a line break are joined.