CARYOPHYLLUS AROMATICUS.—丁香 (Ting-hsiang), 丁子香 (Ting-tzŭ-hsiang). The Chinese say that the clove tree is diœcious, and that the pistillate plant is called 雞舌香 (Chi-shê-hsiang), the “chicken tongue” referring to the shape of the dried immature flowers of this variety. As this tree is not indigenous to, nor is it much grown in China, the distinction here given was probably a shrewd guess based upon different qualities of the drug appearing in the market. These “chicken tongue spice” cannot be the so-called “mother cloves,” since the Chinese know of these also, and call them 母丁香 (Mu-ting-hsiang), which is an exact translation of the common English and German terms. The properties of this variety are considered to be similar to those of the ordinary cloves, but are especially recommended in combination with ginger juice as an application to prevent the hair from turning gray.
The place of origin of this drug, as given by the Pêntsao, is the islands and countries of the East Indian Archipelago, Cochin China, and Polo Condor. The cloves found on the Chinese market do not differ in any material respect from those found in the shops of the West. They are regarded as having warm, stimulating, carminative, corrective, stomachic, tonic, anthelmintic, and derivative properties. They are prescribed in cases of offensive breath, diarrhœa, cholera, intestinal disorders of infants, uterine fluxes, sterility, and many other diseases. They are held to be especially efficacious in nausea and vomiting. The drug is also used in various ways in the treatment of nasal polypus, ulcers, cracked nipple, carious teeth, scorpion stings, and to prevent or render pleasant offensive perspiration. The bark, somewhat thicker than cassia bark, is used in toothache and as a substitute for the cloves. The twigs and root, although regarded as inferior, are also used for similar purposes. In the Appendix to the Pêntsao, the clove oil is mentioned as a foreign product, and traders of Macao are credited with having introduced it into China. It is now manufactured in the south, and has become an article of export. Its use as a substitute for the crude drug, and especially its application to aching teeth, is well known and appreciated by the Chinese at the present time.