The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1888-04-11
A M0ngOlian Youth RestOrer.

Ginseng is the most potent in its vir
tues and varied in its applications of al
known Chinese medicines. American
and European pharmacists have never
been able to attribute any remarkable
properties to the root, although it has
been known to them for over 100 years.
Analysis shows that it is rich in gum
and starch. and that it contains albumen,
rein and, perhaps, other principles, and
it is put down on our dispensatorles ss
being mild stomachic.
On the contrary, the Chinese impute to
it the most miraculous virtues. 1t has
even been known, they say, to raise the
dead to life. In some form or other 1T
enters into multitude of their medical
compounds. but it seems somewhat diff
cult to learn what they use it for. Prob
ably it is panacea. At any rate. it is
given an almost fabulous value in the
Celestial Empire, and the entire produc-
ton of the United States amounting to
81, 900, 900 annually, is exported to
China. The people who have been en-
gagged for years in this export trade with
China confirm the statement about the
mystery connected with the use of GIN
seng among the Mongolians.
An exporter once showed piece OF
the root to member of the Chinese En-
bassv and inquired about its use among
his people. The ambassador evaded the
question with an adrojtness OF a born
diplomat. 1t is certain, however, that
the Chinese regard it as a restorer OF
youth to the aged. The habitat of the
ginseng plant is widely distributed. 1t
grows wild in Manchuria, Corca, along
the great wall of China, and in various
regions of the United States. The most
valuable ginseng was formerly gathered
in Manchuria, where its sale became the
exclusive monopoly of the Emperor.
In recent years the supply there has
been exhausted and it has been OBJ
tanned elsewhere. Besides, it is now cul-
tivated along the banks of the Csuri,
where the humidity of the Pacific sea-
board favors the development of
splendid vegetation, and also in Japan
and Corea. The annual production in
the United States is about 400, 900
pounds, which is obtained from a great
NUMBER OF StateS. MuCu CouleS lioLn
the mountains of West Virginia sand
Pennsylvania, a little from North Caro-.
lima, Ohio, Indiana, and the States OF
the Northwest furnish the rest.
AS early as 1851 ginseng was gathered
in New England as an article of COM
merce. The celebrated Rev. Jonathan
Edwards wrote letter to his friend,
Rev. Mr.. McCulloch, in Scotland, in 1852,
that since it had been found the previous
summer in the woods near Stockbridge
and elsewhere in New England and in
the country Of the Six Nations, "the
traders in Albany have been eager to
purchase all they could get of the root to
send to England, where they make
great profit by it. This has occasioned
our Indians of al sorts, young and old.
to spend abundance of time in the
woods, and sometimes to great dis
tance, in the neglect of public worship
and husbandry, and also in going much
to Albany. to sell their roots (Which
proves worse to them than in going into
the woods. where they are always much
in the way of temptation and drunken
ness. "-.Amtri an 4aalyst.