the Materia Medica, the root of a species of Smilax, brought both from the East and West Indies; and thence distinguished into oriental and occidental. Both sorts are longish, full of joints, of a pale reddish colour, with no smell, and very little taste. The oriental, which is the most esteemed, is considerably harder, and paler-coloured than the other. Such should be chosen as is fresh, close, heavy, and upon being chewed appears full of a fat unctuous juice. It is generally supposed to promote insensible perspiration and the urinary discharge, and by its unctuous quality to obviate acrimonious juices. China-root was first brought into Europe in the year 1535, and used as a specific against venereal and cutaneous disorders. CHINA-Ware. See Porcelain.