Biomedical subjects
Publications and source records attributed to Masao Uchibayashi.
Preparations made from Uncaria gambir or Acacia catechu are called hái-ér-chá, băi-yào-jiān, or a-sen-yaku. Their identification and relation to one another are discussed historically and etymologically. Hái-ér must have been derived from khadira (Sanskrit), khayer (Bengalese), or khair (Hindi). A-sen is supposed to be formed by the combination of er and sen; the latter may be a euphonic transformation from sen, to (--, to decoct).
The etymology of eaglewood (chén xiāng, --) and its related terms with particular reference to its relation to eagle (aquilaria) is discussed. It is pointed out that this fragrant wood has nothing to do with eagle. A Portuguese aguila transcribed from akil (Malay, the name of wood), perhaps underwent phonetic traction to aguia (Portuguese, eagle) in the process of being translated into French. Thus pau d'aguila (Portuguese) was transformed to bois d'aigle (French, aigle=eagle), which led to eagle-wood (English) and Adlerholz (German).