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TRADITIONAL CHINESE MEDICINES
Molecular Structures, Natural Sources
and Applications
TRADITIONAL
CHINESE MEDICINES
Molecular Structures, Natural Sources
and Applications
Second Edition
Compiled by
J Zhou, G Xie and XYan
Edited and with a Foreword by
G W A Milne
First published 1999 by Ashgate Publishing
Second edition 2003
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reprinted or reproduced or utilised in any form or
by any electronic, mechanical, or other means, now known or hereafter invented, including
photocopying and recording, or in any information storage or retrieval system, without
permission in writing from the publishers.
Notice:
Product or corporate names may be trademarks or registered trademarks, and are used only for
identification and explanation without intent to infringe.
Publisher's Note
The publisher has gone to great lengths to ensure the quality of this reprint but points out that
some imperfections in the original copies may be apparent.
Disclaimer
The publisher has made every effort to trace copyright holders and welcomes correspondence
from those they have been unable to contact.
Foreword vi i
Acknowledgements vi i i
Introduction ix
How to Use This Book xv
Abbreviations and Symbols xxv
v
FOREWORD
The part played in Western medicine by naturally occurring organic compounds is complex
and substantial. The chemistry of natural products has long been an important part of the
organic chemistry syllabus used in chemistry schools, and a familiarity with the chemistry
of plant-derived compounds is common in research laboratories in the US and Europe.
Partly because of this, the proportion in modern pharmacopeias of natural products and
their derivatives is variously estimated to be somewhere between 25 and 50%.
Scientists in China, on the other hand, have spent centuries producing exhaustive and
detailed compilations of the plants that are found in that country's various Materia Medica,
and these compilations, which go far beyond mere familiarity, have long proved to be
important resources for pharmaceutical chemists in the West. Chinese publications have
generally focused on the botanical and medical aspects of medicinal plants, and the
research chemist has required expertise in at least one of these disciplines in order to make
use of the information presented.
In Traditional Chinese Medicines, a second edition of the work first published in 1999, the
primary focus is on the chemical compounds found in plants of the Materia Medica of
China. This is a significant step forward because chemistry is the bridge between botany
and medicine. With this book, the reader can learn which chemicals are in a given plant,
what the biological activities of these chemicals are and how this relates to the use of the
plant in traditional Chinese medicine. A huge amount of knowledge has been distilled by
the authors—Jiaju Zhou, Xinjian Yan and Guirong Xie—to prepare this book which, it is
hoped, will be of value to anyone working in drug discovery.
vii
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
We, the authors, would like to express our gratitude to Dr. C.W.A. Milne, Dr. Ellen Zeman
and Dr. Heidi Hales of Ashgate Publishing. Dr. G.W.A. Milne originally urged us to develop
this book in 1996. He not only offered us encouragement, but has also written the Foreword
and spent much time editing the material as it developed, particularly the bioactivity data,
for this second edition. We thank Dr. Ellen Zeman and Dr. Heidi Hales for their work in
editing and formatting this book.
We would like to thank our colleagues of the Institute of Process Engineering, Chinese
Academy of Sciences, Mr. Wucheng Tang, Ms. Qi Li, Dr. Xianfeng He and Dr. Aihua Xie.
Mr. Wucheng Tang helped draw some of the molecular structures. Ms. Qi Li helped compile
two sections of Part II, the TCM effects index and the indications index. Dr. Xianfeng He
developed some related software tools to computerize the data. Dr. Aihua Xie partly
compiled bioactivity data.
We are grateful to Professors Zhihong Xu, Zhangyuan Yang and Hao Wen of the Institute of
Process Engineering, Chinese Academy of Sciences, for their long-term support.
Finally, we would like to give special thanks to our family members; without their total and
never-ending support, this book would not have been completed.
v¡¡¡
INTRODUCTION
The medicinal use by humans of natural materials—plants, minerals, animal extracts, fungi—
predates recorded history and has been undertaken in all parts of the w o r l d . Ancient
Egyptian, Roman, Greek and Indian civilizations all studied the medicinal uses of herbs,
which were used to treat a variety of diseases. These treatments, however, were generally
empirical, and it is only in the last century that an effort has been made to isolate and
identify specific active chemicals from natural sources. Currently as many as half the drugs
in the modern pharmacopeia are derived more or less directly from plants. Traditional
Chinese medicines, which are largely based on plants or plant extracts, are still used widely
in China.
In the fight against disease, plants were a natural resource and were exploited heavily by
ancient civilizations. More recently, research in the West and in China has established as
common ground the conclusion that all medicinally active materials operate at the
molecular level—that active drugs, irrespective of origin, all contain specific molecules
that are the source of the activity. Further, in most cases the active molecules are often
related to receptors in the body. Progress of a disease may depend upon the functioning of
IX
TRADITIONAL CHINESE MEDICINES
numerous receptors, and blockage of a receptor by a foreign molecule can alter the course
of the disease. If multiple receptors can be blocked, the likelihood of a medical effect will
be enhanced. Traditional herb-derived medications such as those that form the basis of TCM
contain numerous distinct chemical compounds and this, coupled with the simultaneous
use of different medicines, a common practice in TCM, ensures that numerous chemicals
will be present in any treatment, a condition that is unusual in Western medical practice.
Different chemicals may be synergistic, or one may ameliorate the toxicity of another. A
primary objective of the physician is to identify the combination of herbal medicines that
is most effective in treating the disease.
TCM then, is highly empirical, and, as in any empirical activity, history is of great impor-
tance. Many centuries of human use of TCMs, coupled with unusually thorough documen-
tation, has produced a valuable body of knowledge, which is the basis of this compilation.
Beginning in the twentieth century, modern analytical techniques have been applied to the
study of the materials used in TCM. The active principles have been isolated from thou-
sands of TCMs, these molecules have been completely characterized and their behaviors
in biological systems have been determined. As an example, the Japanese Honeysuckle
(JIN YIN HUA, Lonicera japónica, TCM T1555 in this book) has been used extensively in
Chinese medicine as an antipyretic in treatment of upper respiratory tract infections, tonsil-
litis, laryngitis, skin lesions, viral conjunctivitis, welling abscesses, influenza, pneumonia,
mastitis, appendicitis and heat-toxin blood dysentery. Analysis of the extract from this plant
reveals chlorogenic acid (compound 1360 in this book) as a major component. This com-
pound is known from pharmacological studies to have antibacterial, antineoplastic, anti-
mutagenic, antioxidant, antiviral and choleretic activities. It affects blood coagulation,
stimulates intestinal motion and is a CNS stimulant. These "Western" properties are thus
quite consistent with the use in TCM of the Japanese Honeysuckle. A related compound,
ferulic acid (compound 3070), isolated from over 40 plants used inTCM, including Chinese
Angelica (DANG GUI, Angelica sinensis, TCM T642) is known to possess antibacterial,
antineoplastic, antiestrogenic, antifungal, antihepatotoxic, antimitotic, antioxidant and
platelet aggregation inhibitory activity. These properties underlie its role in TCM as a tonic
useful in the treatment of anemia and asthenia.
The purpose of this book is to serve as an integrated information resource for TCM. The book
is based upon chemicals known to be present in TCMs and includes the chemistry, medici-
nal chemistry, pharmacology, toxicology, effects and indications of TCMs. This reference
should serve as a useful collection of medicinal data related to TCM and also as a tool
useful for the understanding of TCM. The data presented here should prove to be a rich
source of lead compounds and useful for the development of new theories in health and
medical treatment. It is hoped that this compilation will be helpful in building bridges
between Chinese and Western medicine.
HISTORY OF TCM
Hieroglyphic records pertaining to Chinese medicine created during the Shang dynasty,
which ended in the eleventh century BC, are among the oldest medical records known.
One of the earliest works mentioning disease and medicine, Shi Jing, was written before the
X
INTRODUCTION
seventh century BC and a second, Shan Hai Jing, in the third century BC. Other important
sources include Wu Shi Er Bing Fang, which appeared between 770 and 221 BC, Huang Di
Neijing (220 BC), Shan Han Za Bing Lun (150-219 AD) and Shang Han Lun (220 AD). These
sources, collectively, identify a few hundred herbal preparations useful in the treatment of
medical disorders. This book describes the important chemicals in some of these herbal
preparations. The full history of traditional Chinese medicine is the subject of a number of
publications, 1 ' 2 ' 3 ' 4 5 and the interested reader is referred to a recent summary 6 by Nigel
Wiseman, who also has published authoritative dictionaries 7 8 of Chinese medicine. Other
useful dictionaries include one by Yuan et al. 9 and one published by the Chinese govern-
ment10 in 1997. A Chinese-English dictionary of the names of seed plants appeared11 in
1983 and two other dictionaries 12 ' 13 of plant names were published in 1996.
Ben Jing (Shen Nong Ben Cao Jing, written in the Qin and Han Dynasties, not earlier than
104 BC), the oldest herbal book, contains detailed descriptions of 365 herbal medicines
(including 67 animal-derived drugs, 252 herbal drugs and 46 mineral drugs).
After Ben Jing, important Materia Medica books include Wu Pu Ben Cao, Ben Cao Jing Ji
Zhu and Ming Yi Bie Lu. W u Pu (a student of the well-known TCM practitioner Hua Tuo) in
208-239 A D compiled Wu Pu Ben Cao, which describes 441 TCMs in detail. Tao Hong-jing
(456-536 AD) wrote Ben Cao Jing Ji Zhu, which describes 730 TCMs. A more important
book by Tao Hong-jing is Ming Yi Bie Lu, which describes 680 TCMs. Modern TCM experts
regard Ben Jing and Ming Yi Bie Lu as having laid the foundation for the development of a
Materia Medica of China.
The first national pharmacopoeia, Tang Materia Medica (Newly Revised Materia Medica)
was sponsored by the Tang government and compiled by Su Jing, et al. (659 AD). It covers
850 medicinal herbs. Another national pharmacopoeia is Kai Bao Materia Medica,u pub-
lished in the Song Dynasty, which includes 983 medicinal herbs.
In the 16th century, the Compendium of Materia Medica (Ben Cao Gang Mu) was compiled
by Li Shi-zhen (1596 AD). This very important book is a comprehensive herbal encyclope-
dia that includes descriptions of 1,892 herbal, animal or mineral medicines, 1,160 pictures,
and 11,000 compound prescriptions. The Compendium of Materia Medica has been used not
only as a medicinal pharmacopoeia, but also as a valuable reference on botany, zoology,
mineralogy and metallurgy. It has been intensively studied in Japan and Korea, and highly
evaluated by Western scientists. Darwin called it "the encyclopedia of China published in
1596," and cited this book in reference to chicken species. An important supplement to this
book is Ben Cao Gang Mu Shi Yi (1765 AD) compiled by Zhao Xue-min (Qing Dynasty,
circa 1719-1805 AD). Ben Cao Gang Mu Shi Yi contains 921 TCMs, 716 of which are not
included or have no detailed information in Compendium of Materia Medica. Dian Nan
Ben Cao (circa 1476 AD) is a book on Yunnan herbal medicines, covering 458 local TCM
xi
TRADITIONAL CHINESE MEDICINES
herbs. An Illustrated Book of Plants (1848 AD) written by W u Qi-jun (1789-1847 AD) in-
cludes 1714 plants.
The most important TCM books published recently include Chinese Medicine Dictionary
(ZhongYao Da Ci Dian, 1979) covering 5,767 TCM herbs,15 Chinese Materia Medica (Zhong
Hua Ben Cao, 1999), describing 8,980 TCM herbs with 8534 pictures, 16 and China Re-
sources Brief Flora of Chinese Medicine (1994).17
In TCM, single-formula medicine is always an option, but the use of compound prescrip-
tions, involving multiple TCMs, plays an important role. This aspect of TCM has been ad-
dressed by many authors, and some of the important formulation resources are described
below.
Oian lin Yao Fang and Oian lin Yi Fang. In the Tang dynasty (618-907 AD), Sun Si Miao
(581-682 AD) compiled Bai Ji Qian Jin Yao Fang (652 AD), generally called Qian Jin Yao
Fang (Thousand Golden Essential Formulas). This book consists of 30 volumes, 232 classes,
5,300 prescriptions, discusses many different diseases and treatment methods, and summa-
rizes the medical achievements attained before the Tang Dynasty. Based on 30 years'
clinical experience and on the publication of Qian Jin Yao Fang, in 682 A D Sun Si Miao
completed another 30-volume work, Qian Jin Yi Fang, which primarily discusses treatment
in internal medicine, surgery and acute infectious diseases.
Wai Tai Mi Yao. Another book from the Tang dynasty is Wai Tai Mi Yao written in 752 A D by
Wang Xi. This book has 40 volumes and 6,000 prescriptions.
Tai Ping Sheng Hui Fang. Progress in economics, culture, science and technology—printing
technology in particular—greatly promoted the development of medicine, and in 992 A D
the Song Dynasty government published Tai Ping Sheng Hui Fang {Creat Harmony Sagely
Benefit Formulae), which contains 100 volumes and 16,834 prescriptions. This was the first
book of TCM formulations compiled by the government of China. There are also many other
publications, including He Ji Ju Fang, containing 10 volumes, and Sheng Ji Zhong Lu, de-
scribing 20,000 prescriptions. In the Ming Dynasty, Zhu Tun et al. published Pu Ji Fang
(Prescriptions for Healing the Masses), which contains 61,739 formulas (1406 AD).
Two modern texts on the pharmacology of TCMs are by Q i Chen 18 and Kee Chang Huang. 19
REFERENCES
1. Wenlan Fan, General History of China, People's Press, Beijing, 1978 (in Chinese).
2. Yi Dai and Shuduo Gong (Chief Editors), History of China, The Salangane Press, Beijing,
2001 (in Chinese).
3. Lanhua Shi, The History of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Science Press, Beijing, 1996
(in Chinese).
xii
INTRODUCTION
XIII
HOW TO USE THIS BOOK
The second edition of Traditional Chinese Medicines contains information on 9,127 chemi-
cals isolated from 3,922 TCM natural sources, comprised mostly of plants, a small number
of animals and a few minerals. The book consists of three parts. Part I lists the 9,127 chemi-
cals; pharmacological data are provided for about 2,700 of these, and the TCM sources and
the corresponding literature references for each chemical are given. Part II describes the
medicinal effects and indications of 3,922 TCM herbs with their identification numbers (T1
toT3922) for cross reference, Chinese Pinyin names, English names, and Latin names of the
species of origin along with cross reference to their chemical components in Part I. Part III
includes six indexes.
The 9,127 chemicals isolated from the 3,922 TCMs and 318 other pharmacologically impor-
tant natural sources are listed alphabetically by their common chemical names (in En-
glish). Each entry in Part I contains up to eleven items: identification number (1 to 9127),
chemical name, synonyms, CAS number, molecular formula, molecular weight, physico-
chemical properties, pharmacological data, TCM source(s) of the chemical in Pinyin,
reference(s), and the compound's two-dimensional structure. A typical entry with the eleven
data items is shown on page xw.
For the compound shown in the sample entry, cryptopimaric acid (entry number 1727), two
synonyms (isodextropimaric acid and (-)-sandaracopimaric acid) are listed. The compound's
CAS number is 471-74-9 [in square brackets]. Its molecular formula is C 20 H 30 O 2 with mo-
lecular weight 302.46 (in parentheses). This compound forms colorless acicular crystals
with a reported melting point range of 166-168 °C and optical rotation index [a]^ 4 = -16°.
The pharmacological data indicate that this chemical acts as an antineoplastic (with a
XV
TRADITIONAL CHINESE MEDICINES
median inhibitory concentration of 12.5 |ig/ml as determined through studies on the P388
leukemia lymphocyte eel! line) and a 15-lipoxygenase inhibitor (with a median inhibitory
concentration of 0.65 m M as determined through soy plant studies). TheTCMs containing
this chemical are CI G U , C H O U BAI, Jl M A O SONG and LIU SHAN. Detailed descriptions
of these five TCM plant species can be found easily by the reader in Part II of the book.
Appended to Part I is a list of 1,558 references to the original scientific literature on the
chemistry and pharmacology of TCMs. The references pertaining to cryptopimaric acid—6,
520, 544 and 658—are listed in this section, titled "References for Part I."
In Part II of the book, all 3,922 TCM species are listed alphabetically by their Chinese
Pinyin name (set in capital letters, from T 1 , A Bl XI NI YA CI TONG, to T3922, Z U A N G U O
SUAN JIE), accompanied by the English name, any equivalent species, the parts of the
plant that are used medicinally, the medicine's effects and its indications. An effort has
been made to report all the chemical components that have been isolated from each spe-
cies. These are listed by entry number for cross reference to the chemical compound listing
in Part I. A bibliography of 30 general references to the literature of TCM is also provided.
xvi
HOW TO USE THIS BOOK
In total, the section titled "Natural Sources, Effects and Indications of TCMs" in Part II
includes 3,922 "herb" species, including 3,604 TCMs and congeneric species, along with
an additional 318 pharmacologically important species. A supplementary listing, "Other
Natural Sources with Biologically Active Components," includes an additional 330 natural
sources, listed alphabetically by species or family name, for some of the chemical com-
pounds found in Part I. These sources are not included among the 3,922 TCMs and are not
described in any detail.
In this edition, unlike the first edition of the book, each TCM listing describes a single
medicinally significant herb (plant, fungus, animal, etc.) or herb part in cases where differ-
ent parts of the herb are associated with different medicinal effects and indications. For
some animal-derived TCMs, an entry may refer to more than one animal. For example, NIU
HUANG (ox-gallstone) is presented as a single entry even though it originates in two spe-
cies (Bos taurus domesticus and Bubalus bubalis).
Key TCMs. The 1,934 "key TCM" species are described in detail. Each entry in Part II for a
key TCM contains up to nine items. As an example, the entry for GAN CAO (Ural Licorice)
is given below:
The entry begins with an exclusive TCM entry number (T920), the TCM name (Chinese
Pinyin name in uppercase without four-tone marks) and the English name. A list of equiva-
lent species follows (six species in this case). The Latin name of the species of origin is
listed next, followed by the part of the plant used, the effects of the medicine and its
indications, i.e. the symptoms which suggest its use. Finally a list of entry numbers identi-
fying the chemical components found in Part I is provided for each TCM. (From GAN CAO,
82 compounds have been isolated.)
EquivalentTCMs. Part II also includes 381 species that the authors have defined as "equiva-
lent species/' Here "equivalent" means that two or more different species have the same or
very similar medicinal effects and indications, and have been used as the same medicine
in TCM practice, even though, botanically, they are regarded as different plants. With a
pointer to the key TCM entry, readers can easily find the corresponding medicinal informa-
tion for the equivalent species. The example below, CU M A O GAN CAO, is an equivalent
species to Ural licorice, and the entry refers the reader to the key TCM, GAN CAO.
Congeners to TCMs. Of the TCMs listed 1,289 are defined as "congeners" (members of the
same genus) to another, key TCM. Most of the congeners are found in use locally as folk
medicines in various regions of China. The example below, MEI Z H O U GAN CAO, is a
congener to Ural licorice, and the entry refers the reader to the key TCM, GAN CAO.
Pharmacologically important species. The last small group of herbs includes 318 species.
These species bear some relationship to TCMs and are of current interest to the research
community. Many of these compounds are active subjects of pharmacological research in
drug discovery. An example is given below:
Part III includes six indexes, the first four of which refer the reader to the TCMs listed in Part
II and last two of which refer to the chemical compound entries in Part I.
Latin Name Index. This index lists in alphabetical order the Latin name (or names) of the
species of origin for each TCM, enabling the reader, starting with a plant's Latin name, to
determine the Pinyin name of the corresponding TCM and thereby locate it in Part II to
obtain additional detailed information. For some species, taxonomic synonyms exist, and
these synonyms are listed as unique entries with cross references to the other listing, which
xviii
HOW TO USE THIS BOOK
includes the English and Pinyin names. For example, two synonyms, Abrus cantoniensis
and Abrus fruticolosus are listed for a single Abrus species, Canton Abrus:
English Name Index. This index lists in alphabetical order the English name of the species
of origin for each TCM, enabling the reader, starting with a plant's common English name,
to determine the Pinyin name of the corresponding TCM and thereby locate it in Part II to
obtain additional detailed information. (In this book, only one common English name is
used.) An asterisk next to the English name indicates that it is a translation to English by
the authors from the Chinese herb name.
TCM Effects Index. This index lists in alphabetical order the effects of TCMs, enabling the
reader to locate in Part II by TCM number those species that produce specific medicinal
effects. The traditional Chinese medical terminology has largely been retained.
TCM Indications Index. This index lists in alphabetical order the indications, or symptoms
that point to the use of a particular TCM or formulation of TCMs. This index allows the
reader to locate in Part II by TCM number those medicines indicated for a given symptom
or set of symptoms. The traditional Chinese medical terminology has largely been retained,
although some Western medical terms are also included.
Chemical Bioactivity Index. This index enables the reader to locate all active compounds
with a specific biological or pharmacological activity. Using Western terminology, this
index lists in alphabetical order useful pharmacological terms—including drug therapeutic
categories, diseases, physiological mechanisms, pesticide classes, drug classes, effects
and indications—pointing the reader by entry number to the chemical compound(s) in Part
I with a given biological activity.
Molecular Formula Index. This index, listing molecular formulas organized in Hill order,
enables the reader to locate any chemical component listed in Part I by compound code
based on its molecular formula.
In this new edition, pharmacological data for roughly 2,700 of the 9,127 compounds are
included in the entries in Part I. A description of pharmacological data and the way the
information is formatted here is described below.
Each item of the pharmacological data starts from a subject heading (for example "antine-
oplastic", "antihypercholesterolemic", "antihypertensive", or "platelet aggregation inhibi-
tor") with a semicolon marking the end of each pharmacological subject heading. Detailed
information—including the object of the experiment, experimental model and conditions
xix
TRADITIONAL CHINESE MEDICINES
in clinical trials, qualitative criterion of bioactivity (for example the inhibitive rate at a
fixed dosage or concentration), or quantitative criterion (such as IC50 or ED 50 )—is presented
in parentheses. For example, for the compound Ginsenoside-Rb2 (identification number
3365 in this book), there are sixteen subjects described in the pharmacological data field:
Traditional Chinese medicine uses many words and phrases that defy precise translation
into English. In this book, we use Wiseman's terminological system, which has two major
rules:
(1) The English-language terms should be faithful to the original concepts in traditional
Chinese medicine.
quicken blood
XX
HOW TO USE THIS BOOK
This practice allows an accurate account of the stated effect of each medicine. As Wiseman
has pointed out, accuracy is jeopardized by attempts to translate the terminology of Chi-
nese medicine into Western terms.
For indications of TCMs, we use both traditional Chinese and modern medical terminology.
Plants often have more than one common name. To avoid confusion, the method adopted
for this book has been to use a single English common name for each plant species.
Not all of the 3,922 species listed here have an English name, according either to dictionar-
ies or the original literature. For these plants, we have, with constraint and care, named
them according to the rules commonly used by botanists. In these cases, an asterisk is used
to indicate the probative names in the English Name Index.
The classification scheme used to create these names conforms to that found in Zhang et al.
(Huiyuan Zhang, et al., China Resources Brief Flora of Chinese Medicine, Science Press,
Beijing, 1994). The following rules have been adopted:
(1) For algae, fungi, lichens and bryophyta, the common classification is used.
(2) For pteridophyta, the Renchang Q i n classification system (1978) is used.
(3) For gymnospermae, the Wanjun Zheng classification system (1978) is used.
(4) For angiospermae, the Engler classification system (1964) is used.
(5) For fauna, the Johnson classification (1977) is used.
This discussion is written especially for those readers who are interested in the Chinese
language and in Chinese names of TCMs. Other readers may skip this section without
hindering their ability to use this reference. It is worth mentioning that in this book there is
always a one-to-one relationship between English and Pinyin names. Thus, the indexes in
xxi
TRADITIONAL CHINESE MEDICINES
Part III should prove helpful in navigating the large quantity of information presented in this
compilation.
TheTCM name is the primary identifier of a medicine, and this book is organized around
theTCM name. All TCM names are expressed according to the simplified Chinese phonetic
alphabet (without four-tone marks) and are set in uppercase letters. The Greenish Lily, for
example, can be found in the English Name Index to be the medicine BAI HE (listed in Part
II), and the Latin name of the plant is Lilium brownii, from the family Liliaceae.
A TCM name, as expressed here, is organized in a set of uppercase letter groups, each
group corresponding to a "square w o r d " in Chinese. For someTCM names, particularly the
longer ones, the last letter groups can serve to identify the medicinally used parts of the
plant, important information in formulating and understandingTCMs. These commonly used
letter groups are given below:
GEN root
JING stem
ZHI branch
YE leaf
HUA flower
GUO fruit, nut
Zl seed
PI or SHU PI bark (or spermoderm)
BAI PI fiber
xxii
HOW TO USE THIS BOOK
The first letter groups in TCM names are often modifiers. As shown below, DA YE means
"large leaf/' DA HUA is "large flower." YUN N A N , AN H U I , TIAN SHAN and MENG GU
are geographic terms.
Thus, in the TCM name HEI DA D O U PI (black soybean spermoderm), HEI means black, DA
D O U means soybean, and PI identifies the part of the plant used for a particular medicine
(the bark or spermoderm).
Because the marks of Chinese four tones have been omitted in this book, a few pairs of
different plants have the same name. For example, although the Peking euphorbia and the
Japanese thistle are distinct species, without four-tone marks, they have the same name,
DA Jl, in Pinyin. For the sake of clarity, they are termed here as DA Jl I (T565) and DA Jl II
(T566), respectively. (Note that I and II are Roman numbers, not Pinyin signs.) The common
butterbush (Cephalanthus, family Rubiaceae) and the beautiful sweetgum leaf {Liquidam-
bar, family Hamamelidaceae) have the same original Pinyin name, FENG XIANG SHU. To
distinguish them, the common butterbush is named here as FENG XIANG SHU YE I (T893),
and the beautiful Sweetgum leaf as FENG XIANG SHU YE (T892). In a similar manner, the
Japanese avens (Geum japonicum, family Rosaceae) is named SHUI YANG MEI I (T2800),
and the thinleaf adina (Adina rubella, family Rubiaceae) is SHUI YANG MEI II (T2801).
NOTES
In this book the ancient Chinese doctor names are given in the Chinese way, with the
family name first, followed by the given name. Alternative Pinyin spellings can be found
for the names of ancient Chinese doctors: Bian Que = Pien Chi'ao; Cang Gong = Tsang-
kung; Hua Tuo = Hua To; Li Shizhen = Li Shih-Chen; Wang Shuhe = Wang Shu-Ho; Zhang
Zhongjing = Chang Chung-ching. Also note that different spellings exist for ancient Chi-
nese medical books: Materia Medica may also be cited as Bencao Cang Mu, Pen T'sao
Kang Mu, or Comprehensive Herbal Foundation. Neijing is also known as Nei Ching, Huang
Di Nei ¡ing, Huang Di Nei Ching, Inner Classic of the Yellow Emperor, Yellow Emperor's
Classic of Internal Medicine, or Yellow Emperor Classic. Shang Han Lun may also be called
On Cold Damage, or Treatise on Diseases Caused by Cold Factors.
xxiii
TRADITIONAL CHINESE MEDICINES
DISCLAIMER
Great effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of the information in this edition of
Traditional Chinese Medicines. However, the publishers cannot be held responsible for the
accuracy of the information. Readers intending to use any medicinal data described in this
book are encouraged, whenever possible, to consult the original publications cited.
xxiv
ABBREVIATIONS AND SYMBOLS
XXV
TRADITIONAL CHINESE MEDICINES
xxvi
ABBREVIATIONS AND SYMBOLS
MDA methylenedioxyamphetamine
MED minimum effective dose
MIC minimum (effective) inhibiting concentration
min minute
MLC minimum lethal concentration
MLD minimum lethal dose
mp melting point
mus mouse
NADH (reduced) nicotinamide-adenine dinucleotide
NADPH (reduced) nicotinamide-adenine dinucleotide phosphate
NGF nerve growth factor
non-orl non-oral administration
orl oral administration
p
r
leukemia lymphocyte cell line P388
388
cytochrome P450
P450
platelet-activating factor
PAF
an experimental model for cytotoxic testing
PD
prostaglandin D 2
PGD2
prostaglandin E2
PGE2
prostaglandin F2a
PGF2a
prostacyclin
PGI2
phytohemagglutinin
PHA
p-nitrophenylphosphate enzyme
pNPPase
q.v. quod vide (see)
rbt rabbit
RM relative mobility
RNA ribonucleic acid
S sarcoma cell line S180
^180 subcutaneous injection
SC serum glutamate-oxaloacetate transaminase
SGOT serum glutamate-pyruvate transaminase
SGPT species
sp. species (plural)
spp. slow reacting substance of anaphylaxis
SRSA sublimates
sub synonym
syn. traditional Chinese medicine
TCM tumor necrosis factor
TNF tissue-type plasminogen activator
TPA Walker carcinoma 256 cell line
W256
xanthine-xanthine oxidase
X-XOD
xxvii
Other documents randomly have
different content
LOOK, THERE IS YOUR HORSEMAN!
"I see him," said Dick grimly, "coming up from that shack at the
foot of the hill."
"Yes, and see those two sailors going down to the beach;
they're toting sacks or something over their shoulders. They can go
around to Firewood Bay that way. We've got 'em, all right,"
exclaimed Henry joyfully. "What do you reckon we'd better do now?"
"I 'reckon' there's going to be one native of this 'Treasure Island'
who's going to get the beating of his life in just about five minutes,"
answered Dick, taking an extra tug to his belt. "That fellow is coming
right up the hill to this trail, and I'm going to be right at the top to
welcome him. Come along, Hank, but lie low and leave him to me."
Stooping low, both lads ran across the open space till they came
to the edge of the farther wood, where they found an entrance to
the trail up which the lone horseman could be seen spurring and
lashing his worn-out steed. The animal was too far gone to respond
to the cruel treatment, and plodded slowly and wearily upward.
"Hank, you go to the other side in case he should happen to
turn that way," directed Dick. "That brute won't escape us; and let
me tell you something, I'm not going to beat him up for lashing me,
alone, I'm going to try and even up some of the debt for that poor
dumb animal he's torturing."
Henry scuttled to the north side of the trail, while Dick waited
impatiently where he first had hidden.
The labored breathing of the horse came to his ears, and then,
preceded by a volley of oaths, rider and horse reached the ridge
trail. The native, a dark, swarthy, pock-marked man, about thirty-five
years of age, with black, bloodshot eyes and long, yellow teeth, was
broad shouldered, and though slender, was well knit. On reaching
the crest of the hill the horse's head was turned southward and
again the rider raised the heavy quirt to bring it down on the
bleeding, swollen flanks. That blow never fell, for with the quick
spring of a tiger Dick grabbed the rider around the waist and tore
him from the saddle, throwing him to the ground. At the same time
he snatched the quirt from the surprised man's hand and began
belaboring him as he groveled at the boy's feet. The startled horse
meanwhile had turned down the slope and was stumbling towards
the foot of the hill.
"How do you like that, you yellow cur?" questioned Dick coolly,
giving the coward a final blow across the legs. "Do you think you
want to try any more tricks on me?"
"No! No! Señor! Pardon, Señor! Por Dios, no mas!" cried the
man as he saw Dick's arm rise again and the lash snap ominously.
"Get up and vamoose," ordered Dick, pointing along the trail
they had followed. "Never mind your horse; you can get him when I
get through with you."
Never taking his eyes from the man, Dick made him march in
front of them. The native limped along protestingly, but every time
he stopped to argue Dick applied the lash with good effect.
On reaching the trail leading down to Firewood Bay, Dick
pointed towards the town of Dewey.
"You savvy Dewey?" he inquired.
"Si, Señor," came the surly response, and the shifty black eyes
glared for a moment at the boy.
"Well, beat it--pronto," ordered Dick, and with the words he
gave the man a push in the right direction, while both boys, as if
performing a military drill, simultaneously aided him with a
persuading kick.
"Just to help you along a bit," called Henry and then he turned
to Dick. "Shake, Dick; that was a job well and nobly done."
As he spoke five bullets whistled past them, one dusting the
ground at their feet and ricochetting with a shrill "Z-z-z-i-i-n-n-g."
Instantly the startled boys dropped to the grass beside the trail
and, keeping under cover until a fold in the ground effectually
protected them, they ran for the boat landing.
"Wonder why he didn't use that shooting iron before?"
questioned Dick, looking back over the trail.
"Reckon he was too plumb scared to remember he owned a
gun," said Henry, still beaming with joy over the adventure. "Do you
believe he'll take any more pot shots at us?"
"No, we are out of pistol range down here, and he can't come
down the hill without being seen. Those shots were too close for
comfort to suit me, and yet I hated to have to run away as we did.
Still it would have been worse than foolhardy to tempt Fortune by
hanging around up there with that rascal in hiding. How do you like
being under fire?"
"Can't say I've any hankering for it, but it didn't scare me as I
thought it would," said Henry.
The men from Flamingo Bay were now coming over the brow of
the hill and soon reached the boat. They had not seen the native on
the other side of the hill, but all had heard the five shots. The boys
did not enlighten them as to the cause, having decided to report the
whole matter to First Sergeant Douglass on their return to the
Denver.
While they were shoving the heavy cutter into the water the two
men, Joe Choiniski and "Slugger" Williams, came from around the
point and joined the group. Both men wore rubber boots, and Dick
remembered that they had taken them ashore that afternoon under
their arms, whereas now they carried their shoes, from the tops of
which were sticking some finely branched pieces of unbleached
coral. Dick also noticed how carefully they got into the boat when all
was ready to shove off for the ship.
"Wonder where they hid their booze," said Henry, "for I'd bet a
month's pay they have it somewhere."
"I guess I know, and you watch Corporal Dorlan frisk them
when they go up on deck," answered Dick with a knowing wink.
Arriving at the port gangway, the liberty party went aboard and
fell in on the quarter-deck for inspection before being dismissed.
Corporal Dorlan, standing at the top of the gangway, was surprised
to hear Dick whisper as he passed, "Search the rubber boots,
Corporal," but he was not slow of comprehension, and as soon as
the men were all in line he went directly up to Joe and "Slugger" and
feeling down their boot legs brought forth several flat flasks carefully
wrapped in dry seaweed.
"What is this?" said Mr. Thorp, the Officer of the Deck.
And Corporal Dorlan merely answered:
"'Wilson--that's all,' sir."
"That is fine work, Corporal. I congratulate you," said a hearty
voice behind the line of men who had witnessed this little scene, and
turning Dorlan found Commander Bentley standing near him.
"It's not me what discovered it, sir. All the credit belongs to
Drummer Comstock. He's the lad what put me wise, sir."
"We will hold 'mast' and investigate this matter at once, Mr.
Thorp; have Comstock report here immediately."
Dick, having heard his name called, approached.
"Now, young man, tell me all you know of this business,"
ordered the Captain, and having heard the entire story of the
exciting afternoon ashore he ordered Dick to go to the Executive
Officer's office and dictate a full report to the Yeoman.
"A man like the one you describe has no business to be at
large," he said. "I will communicate with the authorities ashore and
have him locked up. In the meantime, Mr. Thorp, send a detail of
marines ashore under arms to search and destroy the shack these
two boys discovered. It's on the government reservation and has no
business there. Trumpeter Cabell will go ashore and act as guide."
Then turning to the two culprits, Commander Bentley said:
"I'll keep you men in close confinement until a court-martial can
dispose of your case. Have these two men taken to the brig[#] at
once, Mr. Thorp."
"Aye, aye, sir!" and Ensign Thorp gave the Master-at-Arms the
necessary orders.
CHAPTER IX
HISTORIC BATTLEFIELDS
[#] When the ship is ready to go into action. The drill for this preparation is called
General Quarters.
One day they were conversing about the former achievements of the
marines, and Dick, who by now had read Collum's history from
beginning to end, said:
"I wonder if when they put those new dreadnaughts in
commission they will reverse the time-honored custom and move the
marine detachments up forward!"
"I don't reckon I know what you mean, Dick; why shouldn't they
put the marines wherever they want to on the ships?"
"These days there is no real reason why they shouldn't," said
Dick. "But you know what the relation of the marines was originally
as regards the ship's crew, don't you?"
"Y-e-e-s; at least I think I do. They were the policemen on the
ship, weren't they?"
"Oh, Hank, you simply must read the history of this organization
before you go any further. It will be the best thing to make you get
the right kind of ginger into your work. It will make you proud of
your job and proud to be a U.S. Marine; it is one of the chief things
you need:--esprit de corps--it's what has kept this outfit up to snuff,
and without it no organized body of men could make a name for
themselves any more than you can 'make a silk purse of a sow's
ear.'"
"All right, if you say it takes esprit to make that purse, Dick, I'll
take your word for it, but don't get started preaching. Now tell me
why should or should not the marines be moved, and if not, why
not, or whatever it was you began on when you lost yourself on
Pulpit Street. Go ahead, I'm listening!"
"To begin with, the sailors in the early days were a mighty
tough lot of customers, picked up from nearly every nation under
the sun. They were employed to work the ship; whereas the marines
were organized to do the fighting and were picked men. Because of
the mixed and unruly element in the crew the sailors often became
mutinous. In those days all weapons, and firearms particularly, were
stored in the after part of the ship where the officers had their
quarters and having this advantage, they were able to keep the
crews under subjection. But there were only a few officers as
compared to the crew, consequently the trustworthy marines were
given that part of the ship to berth in between the officers and the
sailors, who generally were berthed in the forecastle. I don't know
just when this was made the fashion, but I do know that it has been
handed down to the present day and you will always find marines in
a compartment next the ward-room. Now do you see what I mean?"
"I understand what you have said, Dick, but what has it to do
with the new battleships?"
"Why, I was wondering if another old Navy custom is going out
of vogue, that's all. For in these new ships the officers are going to
change places with the crew--their living space is going to be the
forecastle instead of the stern. Question: What will they do with the
marines?"
"When did you say that custom started, Dick?"
"Oh, I don't know, Hank; way back in the days of bi-remes and
tri-remes, I guess."
"Then all I have to say is that it's high time a change was made;
allow the officers a chance to take care of themselves--we marines
have nursed them altogether too long," said Henry, and they were
yet laughing at the remark when Police Sergeant Bruckner came
along the deck seeking them.
"The 'Top'[#] says you boys should go with me to the storeroom
and draw rifles, so come right along and get 'em."
"Do we get a medal or anything like that out of it?" asked Henry.
"Yes, you have an opportunity to get a number of things out of
it. The marines shoot the same course for qualification as that
prescribed for the army. There are three grades which pay you well
for trying to do your best. The highest is that of expert rifleman. If
you qualify, you get five dollars more pay per month from the date
of qualification to the end of your enlistment and also a silver
badge,--crossed rifles with a wreath around them. Sharpshooter
pays you three dollars per month till you next shoot for record the
following year and a badge consisting of a silver Maltese cross, while
a marksman's qualification pays two dollars and you get only a silver
bar with 'Marksman' on it. But you will find out all about it in those
books. Run along now and don't bother me any more with your
questions. By the way, Cabell, to-morrow morning you will report to
Ensign Gardiner as orderly for the summary court-martial at ten-
o'clock, in the ward-room. Mr. Gardiner is the recorder of the court."
"What is the recorder of a court?" asked Henry, who was as full
of questions at times as a hive is of bees.
"He is to a summary court what the judge advocate is to a
general court, and the prosecuting attorney to a civil court,"
answered the First Sergeant patiently, "and I hope your
acquaintance with all of these gentlemen may be that of an orderly
or a witness only. And, Comstock, speaking of witnesses, reminds
me you had better stand by for a call, as both Williams and Choiniski
are to be tried to-morrow for smuggling liquor on board ship."
Promptly at ten o'clock the next morning the "musics" were in
attendance at the meeting of the court-martial, but no testimony
was required, as the accused sailors both pleaded "guilty" to the
specifications[#] preferred against them, and merely put in a plea
for clemency.
[#] The written statement of specific acts for which the accused person is being
tried.
[#] A Chinese term generally used by men in the service for food.
"Did you hear that we are going to Guantanamo Bay before the fleet
arrives here, Mike?" questioned Richard.
"Well, it won't be the first time Michael Dorlan has been in that
place, and well I remember the time we showed the Spaniards they
couldn't fool with Uncle Sam's Marines and git away with it."
"Were you in a fight there during the Spanish War, Corporal?"
* * * * * * * * *
The Sampson Medal
* * * * * * * * *
[#] Really the word "Bosque"--Spanish word meaning wood, and pronounced--
boskay.
Henry, having joined the little group surrounding Dorlan and Richard,
as usual asked a question at this point in the recital:
"Did the army come to help you, Corporal?"
"Army nothin'. They was busy gettin' ready to take Santiago,
and didn't bother about us. We marines was the first to land and the
first to fight, but unless we drove those Dagoes out of the woods it
wasn't goin' to be a very healthy place to stay put."
"And did you drive them away?" inquired Dick. He had read all
about the fight, but to get first hand news from one who had
participated in the actual fighting was much better than reading it
from a book.
"Of course we did. You see, the Colonel learned from friendly
Cubans that the Spaniards in that region depended for all their water
on a well a few miles away over the hills--Cusco Well, it was called.
So if we took that well then they'd have to git out of the country. It
was up to us to destroy the well. We made all the arrangements,
and one of the ships was told to shell the locality where the well was
located. Finally we started off dhriving the Dagoes ahead of us,
when suddenly the shells from the ship began droppin' all about us
instead of into the ranks of the enemy. Every minute they kept
comin' hotter and faster and there was little chanct of us bein'
successful as things were goin'. Then I saw one of the nerviest jobs
pulled off that mornin'--one of the things ye often read about and
believe is fiction. Right behind us in plain view was a high bare hill
and on the top of that there hill, his back to the Spaniards and facin'
the flashin' guns of the ship, was a marine sendin' wigwag messages
to the ship and tellin' them where to shoot. Begorra, the bullets was
a-flyin' around him like hail. Kickin' up little spats of dust at his feet,
cuttin' down the cactus on either side of him, singin' through the
little flag he was a-wavin', but did he stop? Not onct--and before
long the shell fire lifted and began fallin' among them Dagoes and
off they went with us marines after them, chargin' and yellin',
sweatin' and swearin'. Yes, we found the well and destroyed it and
went back to our own lines carryin' our dead and wounded with us.
And onct again the good old Corps had scored, for Sergeant Major
John Quick, the feller what did the signalin', won the first medal of
honor in the War of 1898."
"Tell us some more, Dorlan," one of the bystanders pleaded.
"Ah, g'wan with ye. Sure I'm so dhry now from so much blabbin'
I can drink the scuttle-butt[#] dhry, and that without half tryin'."
"Let us see the campaign medal the government gave you, will you,
Mike?" asked Dick. One of his chief ambitions was to be able some
day to wear some of those little bronze medals suspended from the
bright colored silk ribbons on his own coat. Their intrinsic value was
small but what an honor it would be to have the right to wear them.
Mike Dorlan opened his ditty-box, upon which he was sitting,
and fumbling around in its interior brought forth two bronze medals;
one considerably larger than the other.
"This one," said he, holding up the larger medal, "is the
Sampson Medal, given for bein' on board of a ship of the U.S. Navy
in some of the actions against the coastwise towns or with the
Spanish Fleet. You all know that Admiral Sampson was in command
of our naval forces that bottled up Cervera in the harbor of Santiago.
That feller Cervera was a brave man indeed, and he fought like the
gentleman he was, with no more chance of escapin' than I have o'
bein' made the Commandant of the Corps, and you know how likely
that is, bedad. This other little piece of bronze is the regular medal
everyone got who was in Cuban waters or on Cuban soil durin' the
war. It's the Spanish or West Indian Campaign Medal."
"Why don't you ever wear your ribbons and medal, Mike?"
asked Dick. "Believe me, if I had 'em I'd be so proud I'd want to
show 'em to everybody I met. I would like to see you with them all
on some day at inspection."
"I'll tell ye why, me lad, and ye can belave it or not, as you
please; there's one medal I want mor'n all of these combined and
until I can wear that one, I'll not be wearin' of any."
* * * * * * * * *
Medal for
Campaign in the
West Indies and
for Spanish War
CHAPTER X
WINNING HIS FIRST MEDAL
[#] When facing the target the range is supposed to represent the face of a clock.
Twelve o'clock is at the target; six, at the firing point; three, to the right, and nine,
to the left. The direction of the wind is easily designated by reference to any hour
of the clock dial. A clock-face is also imagined on the target-face; twelve at the top
and six at the bottom, facing the firer.
[#] A Zero on the score.
[#] Men who operate the targets and signal the hits from the butts.
"How many shots do we fire?" called out Private Jones, the most
inattentive man of the guard, but also the one always spotlessly
clean, which reputation had gained for him the position of one of
Commander Bentley's cabin orderlies.
"This is slow fire at 200 yards," answered the coach, who
seldom lost his temper and had the patience of Job. "Each man will
fire two strings of five shots each from the standing position, then
we shall move back to 300 yards, and fire the same number of shots
from either the sitting or kneeling position. No sighting shots allowed
at either of these ranges. The targets are up, men! Commence
firing!"
Immediately following the command came the crack of rifles all
along the line--the record practise was under way.
Neither Richard nor Henry, before this week on the range at
Guantanamo Bay, knew anything of rifle shooting, though both, one
in the New England woods, the other along the bayous of the
Mississippi, had spent many happy hours with dog and shotgun.
Practise with the high-powered military rifle was a decidedly
different proposition, but they took to it as a duck does to water, and
during instruction practise they agreeably surprised Sergeant Battiste
with work that was excellent for beginners.
Dick, having more patience and being more cool-headed, strong
and nerveless, was without doubt the better of the two. Henry's one
failing was his impatience to "get the shot off." In case he failed to
bring his sights in perfect alignment on the bull's eye with a steady
hand, he would fall back on the quick "fly shot" so necessary to the
hunter armed with a fowling piece, but disastrous to one who
aspires to perfection with the military weapon.
"Five o'clock three for you, Cabell," sang out the coach; "must
have pulled down on your gun at the last moment. Remember my
caution--take your time and squeeze the trigger. Good work,
Drummer Comstock; you've found the bull first shot. It's nipping in
at twelve o'clock.[#] It pays to be calm and deliberate."
"I'm way off to the right, Sergeant," called out Jones irritably;
"all three of my shots have gone in the same place--twos at three
o'clock, and you said there wasn't any wind blowing."
[#] "Nipping in at twelve o'clock"--A rifleman's term for a bull's-eye just barely
cutting the black at the top.
"Not a bit of wind, Jones, and if you would only remember to set
your wind gauge properly those twos would have been bulls, every
one. You have almost three points of right wind on, and you
shouldn't have any. Apply your quarter-point rule. Each quarter-point
on your wind gauge at 200 yards moves your shot how many inches
on the target?"
"It moves it two inches, and three times two is six inches," said
Jones smugly. "My shots are about two feet from the center of the
bull, so there must be wind blowing from the left."
"Your arithmetic needs a little oiling, Jones. There are four
quarters in every full point and that makes twelve quarters
altogether for your three points. Each quarter point moves you two
inches, making twenty-four inches in all. You see, that is the two
feet that your shots are out, which is what I said in the beginning."
Jones sheepishly corrected his sight, and the next shot on his
target was marked a "pinwheel."
Thus it was the coach went up and down the firing line, offering
the advice of long and successful experience.
At the completion of the firing at 200 yards the line of riflemen
moved back to the 300-yard point, and taking the sitting or kneeling
position, began the next stage of the course. A "possible" or perfect
score of ten shots would mean fifty points towards the three
hundred points necessary to qualify the men as marksmen, and this
they would have to get in order to be permitted to shoot the
sharpshooter's course. The firing at 200 yards was the hardest in
Dick's estimation, and though he had started off with a bull's-eye, or
five, as already stated, he did not continue to see the little white
marker or spotter in the black space as he hoped would be the case.
His first and last shots were fives and the rest fours, making his total
score forty-two. Henry was six points below centers, or thirty-four.
Three hundred yards was an easy range for Dick and he
surprised himself with the high score at that stage--forty-seven
points, all bulls but three, which fell close outside in the four-ring.
Henry had made one over centers, or a score of forty-one.
"Now we will go back to five and six hundred yards," said
Battiste. "Each man must fire two sighting shots at both those
ranges before he can count his shots for record. The firing will be
the same as it was in instruction--from the prone position. I expect
every man to average up his score at the 500-yard range, for the
bull looks as big as a barn-door, and you can't miss it. You know we
change the size of the targets now and use the mid-range or B-
target, and the bull's-eye is twenty inches in diameter. In the short-
range or A-target it is but eight inches, and in the long-range or C-
target it is thirty-six inches. For this reason B-target at 500 yards and
C-target at 800 yards are what we call 'easy marks.'"
"Supposing we fire the twelve shots and the first ten are bulls
but the last two goose eggs, would the latter count against you?"
asked Henry, as he rearranged the leather sling on his rifle around
his left arm before lying down.
"It's your last ten shots which count," replied the coach. "Firing
regulations require you to take the two sighting shots, and you can't
juggle them around to suit yourself; they've got to be the first two
fired. The mirage is no longer boiling straight up,[#] but it's moving
off to the right a bit, so I'd advise you all to take your sighting shots,
make your own deductions and then wait for me to see how nearly
correct you are."
[#] Mirage--Heat waves near the earth, visible on some days to the naked eye,
but more clearly seen through a telescope. It is really the air travelling on the
range, and the best guide for windage, as it is the actual air through which the
bullet travels. When there is no movement to left or right the wind is either still for
a moment or carrying the mirage directly towards or from the target. It appears to
rise and is said to be "boiling."
The moment Dick's target appeared he lay flat on his stomach with
his body at an angle of about forty-five degrees to the firing line,
feet spread apart with the heels turned inwards. His leather sling
was fastened tightly about the upper part of his left arm, and the left
hand was well under the rifle, bearing against the lower swivel,
which held one end of the sling. The butt of the rifle was placed,
with the aid of his right hand, against the right shoulder, both
elbows on the ground, the right hand grasping the small of the stock
with the forefinger curling around the trigger. His cheek was against
the left side of the stock and his right eye so near the rear of the
cocking-piece that to one uninitiated it would appear dangerous. But
it was the safest position he could assume, and the rifle in his grasp
was steady as a rock.
Crack! Crack! The first shots sped on their way to the butts, as
Dick and the man on his right fired almost simultaneously.
Nothing followed! Dick's target screen did not move. He was
certain his position, his aim, his pull, were all perfect. The shot must
have gone through the black paper in the center or one of the black
annular rings and was not seen by the "sand rat" in charge.
"Mark number three target," shouted the sailor who was
keeping Dick's score, and the man at the field-telephone relayed the
message to the butts. A second or two later "number three" was
"sashed," or pulled down; then up it popped with the fatal red flag
waving back and forth across it as if in derision.
Dick was surprised at this, for he was positive his first shot must
have been a bull's-eye. He looked at his sight critically. What was
wrong? Perhaps the wind was blowing enough to throw him off the
"bull," but never could that light breeze throw him off the target
altogether. He had one more sighting shot, and unless he found the
target with that one he would have no "dope" for his ten record
shots that were to follow. Already he had a quarter-point of left wind
on his gauge, which meant, at this range, if he took one-half a point
windage that would move the shot one-half the width of the "bull"--
enough to put him in the four-ring if his aim deviated the slightest
and his "dope" happened to be wrong.
He was about to make the change, even though against his
better judgment, when the man at the end of the telephone called
out:
"Two shot holes in the bull on Number Four target!"
Dick drew a long breath of relief. He had fired his first shot not
at his own but at his right-hand neighbor's target.
"Thank your lucky star, young man, for the sighting spots, or
else your score would have been spoiled in the making," quietly
remarked Sergeant Battiste, who was standing back, enjoying the
lad's perplexity. "Let it be a lesson to you--always take a squint
through your peep sight at the number below your target before you
fire. One of those fives in Four Target was right in the center--a pin
wheel! How much windage did you have?"
"A quarter-point of left wind," answered Dick.
"Just right--now, go ahead and make a possible."
And that is exactly what Drummer Comstock did--every one of
his following shots hitting the bull's-eye for a perfect score, and to
the present day he shows that page from his score book with great
pride.
Dick's luck continued with him at 600 yards, which to many old
and tried riflemen is one of the most interesting ranges. With forty-
three points here and the fifty at 500 yards, Dick now had a total
score of one hundred and eighty-two points.
"What's your total, Hank?" asked Dick while they rested during
the noon hour.
"One hundred and sixty-three, so far; but do you know who has
the highest total for the day?"
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